Eritrea was colonized by Italy in the late 19th century and later ruled by Ethiopia before gaining independence in 1993 after a long war. The country has since been under a single-party government with strict control over society. Despite rich natural resources, economic development has been hindered by political and military conflicts.
Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, and Djibouti to the southeast, with an extensive coastline along the Red Sea to the northeast and east. Covering an area of approximately 117,600 square kilometers, Eritrea has a population estimated at around 6 million people as of 2023. The capital and largest city is Asmara. The official languages are Tigrinya, Arabic, and English. Eritrea operates as a unitary one-party presidential republic, with significant limitations on political freedoms. The economy is primarily based on agriculture, mining, and remittances from the diaspora. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war of independence. The country is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.