Eritrea

May 24, 1991 (Friday) – End of Eritrean War for Independence as Eritrean forces capture Asmara

April 27, 1993 (Tuesday) – Eritrea gains independence from Ethiopia following a referendum

May 6, 1998 (Wednesday) – Eritrean-Ethiopian War begins over territorial disputes (continues until 2000)

November 2000 (Thursday) – Algiers Agreement ends the Eritrean-Ethiopian War

June 15, 2001 (Friday) – Coup attempt in Eritrea fails; the government’s response tightens control

August 23, 2004 (Monday) – Severe drought in Eritrea and neighboring Ethiopia, leading to widespread famine

December 12, 2007 (Wednesday) – Flooding due to heavy rains displaces thousands in the highland regions

February 2010 (Monday) – Massive locust infestation devastates crops in Eritrea, affecting food security

March 2012 (Tuesday) – Eritrean volcano eruption at Mount Nabro in the northern region causes temporary displacement

November 2013 (Wednesday) – Massive flooding in Asmara and surrounding areas due to tropical storms

August 15, 2017 (Tuesday) – Severe drought affects Eritrea’s eastern regions, leading to food shortages and migration

July 2020 (Monday) – Flash floods in coastal areas after heavy rains cause widespread property damage and deaths

March 2024 (Monday) – Magnitude 5.6 earthquake shakes the northern region, causing minor damage and injuries

Continent: Africa (Horn of Africa)
Location: Northeast Africa, bordered by Sudan (west), Ethiopia (south), Djibouti (southeast), and the Red Sea (east)
Capital: Asmara
Language: Tigrinya, Arabic, English (official)
Currency: Nakfa (ERN)
Population: ~3.6 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3)

Borders: Sudan (west), Ethiopia (south), Djibouti (southeast), Red Sea (east)
Landscape: Coastal plains, highland plateaus, mountains, and desert regions
Major Rivers: Barka River, Gash River, Anseba River
Major Mountains: Mount Soira, Mount Emba Soira, Mount Adal, Massawa Mountains
Deserts: Dankalia Desert, Bisha Desert
Lakes: Lake Ghil-el
Volcanoes: Mount Nabro (active)
Highest Point: Mount Soira – 3,018 m (9,902 ft)
Lowest Point: Dankalia Depression – 75 m below sea level
Climate: Semi-arid to desert climate on the coast, tropical and temperate in the highlands
Geological Features: Rift valley systems, Red Sea coastline, active volcanic region (Mount Nabro)

Ethnic Groups: Tigrinya (~55%), Tigre (~30%), Saho, Bilen, and others
Religion: Christian (predominantly Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo), Muslim (predominantly Sunni)
Urban Population: ~31% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: Most people live in the highland regions, with Asmara being the largest city

Famous For: Asmara’s colonial architecture, historical significance, Red Sea coast
Cuisine: Injera, Zigni, T’ej, Sambusa
Arts: Music (traditional and modern), Eritrean cinema, pottery, and weaving
Sports: Football (soccer), cycling, athletics

Economy Type: Low-income, heavily reliant on agriculture and mining
GDP: Approx. $6.7 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Mining (gold, zinc), agriculture (crops, livestock), textiles
Key Exports: Gold, livestock, salt, textiles, food products
Unemployment Rate: ~9.5% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Mining regions in the north, agriculture in the highlands, fisheries along the coast

Government Type: One-party authoritarian state
Head of State & Government: President Isaias Afwerki (as of April 2025)
Legislature: National Assembly (unicameral, but not fully functional)
Constitution: Drafted in 1997 but never implemented due to political factors

Asmara: Modernist architecture, Asmara Cathedral, National Museum
Massawa: Ancient port city, coral reefs, Ottoman and Egyptian architecture
Keren: Historical sites, nature reserves, traditional markets
Dahlak Archipelago: Pristine islands, marine biodiversity, diving
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Asmara – the “New York of Africa” for its early 20th-century Italian modernist buildings