Eritrea
Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Although civil unrest occurred sporadically from 1955 on, Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province in 1962 sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 remains unresolved.
Demarcation of the disputed Eritrean-Ethiopian 620-mile (1,000-km) border has been indefinitely postponed since Ethiopia rejected in 2003 decision by an independent boundary commission that the village of Badme should be part of Eritrea. Eritrea has called for sanctions to force Ethiopia to accept the ruling, which was supposed to be "final and binding" under the terms of the peace deal that ended the border conflict. The flashpoint in the dispute is the village of Badme. In an issue that is seldom addressed, however, Eritrea retained its entire coastline along the Red Sea upon independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, leaving Ethiopia landlocked. In one example of the tensions that remain between the two countries, Ethiopia turned down an offer from Eritrea to use its well-equipped Assab harbor for import and export. Ethiopia prefers instead to use the railway link to the port of Djibouti, despite periodic bombings on the railway by unidentified attackers.
The country's first constitution was ratified by a constituent assembly in late 1997. The constitution calls for political pluralism and a multi-party political system in Eritrea. However, for now, Eritrea remains a one-party country with no recognized opposition.
Opposition organizations in exile include the different factions of the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and the Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ).
Although Eritrea signed a final peace accord in February 2001 (confirming a June 2000 peace agreement) that called for the withdrawal of its troops from disputed border areas, the political and economic impact is still being felt.
Protests seldom occur in Asmara. The ruling regime keeps a tight grip on dissent and shows no inclination toward liberalization. The press is entirely in government control, and no opposition is tolerated. Constitutional guarantees are placed well below state security. Arbitrary arrest and detention are problems. The regime has the capacity to enforce its authority; troublemakers invariably are hunted down and captured. Even those that do not present an apparent political threat (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) are often the target of concerted crackdowns.
The government strictly enforces mandatory military services for youths. In the past, the regime has denied exit visas to citizens under 30, and extended national military and public service from 18 months to an open-ended period for young people. Aid organizations operating in the country sometimes find their employees drafted with little notice. There is an escape valve for discontent: there are reports of disaffected youth fleeing to Ethiopia to avoid repression or the national service draft. No evidence has emerged of any sort of plans by expatriates to organize in an effort to overthrow the regime.
Eritrea's population is roughly divided between Orthodox Christian and Muslims, mainly Sunni. Religious conflict is not a concern. Developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or in the U.S.-led war in Iraq, are unlikely to spark demonstrations in Eritrea, as the local Muslim population identifies itself as discrete from Middle Eastern Muslims.
Although Eritrea and Sudan re-established diplomatic relations early in 2001, they continue to accuse each other of supporting rebel groups. The Eritrean-Sudanese border remains tense. Overland travel between these two countries is dangerous and strongly discouraged. In addition, there is a risk of encountering banditry or terrorist activity by the Eritrean Islamic Salvation (EIS) - formally called the Eritrean Islamic Jihad - near the Eritrean-Sudanese border in areas north and west of the road between Keren and Barentu, and along the coastline north of Massawa. EIS insurgents plant land mines and carry out attacks in these areas. Travelers may encounter banditry unrelated to the EIS along the coastline south of Massawa. Travelers should use extreme caution when traveling in these areas, and avoid them if at all possible. If such travel is essential, travelers should consult both the local government and their embassy.
