Eritrea where is it located

Tensions remained high across the closed and heavily-fortified border until , when Ethiopia launched a surprise diplomatic initiative that formally ended the state of war between the two countries. Eritrea is a one-party state and a highly-militarised society, which the government has sought to justify by citing the threat of war with Ethiopia. Prolonged periods of conflict and severe drought have adversely affected Eritrea's agricultural economy, and it remains one of the poorest countries in Africa.

By UN estimates, hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have fled the country in recent years, making the perilous journey across the Sahara and the Mediterranean to Europe. President: Isaias Afwerki. President Isaias Afwerki has governed Eritrea since it became an independent country in Presidential elections planned for never took place, and a constitution ratified in the same year has never been implemented.

In he joined the fight for independence from Ethiopia, and went on to found and later lead the Eritrean People's Liberation Front.

He became head of the provisional government in , when the Front defeated the forces of the Marxist Ethiopian government. Following the referendum vote for independence, he was elected president and chairman of parliament, giving him control of both the executive and legislative branches of government.

Media beyond the state-sanctioned newspapers and broadcasters are non-existent. Outlets run by Eritreans overseas provide alternative sources of news but their reach is limited, not least because of very low levels of internet access.

Some key dates in Eritrea's history:. UN lifts sanctions. Eritrea: Call to free dissidents. Eritrea: The land its citizens want to forget. Massawa Mitsiwa. Keren Cheren. Mendefera Adi Ugri. Current administrative regions since Debubawi Kayih Bahri. Semenani Kayih Bahri. Adi Ugri Mendefera. Adi Keih. Asmara - Adi Quala. Adi Guadad. Asmara - Mensura. Asmara - Senafe. Mendefera - Adi Bahailai. Mendefera - Qinafna.

Asmara - Tessenei. Adi Abeito. Emba Derho Embaderho. Haykota Haicota. Elabered Elabored. Halib Mentel. Asmara - Nacfa. Asmara - Solomona. Filfil Fil Fil. Assab - Kombelcha. Asmara - Zagr. Adi Nefas. Agordat - Sawa. Tessenei - Um Hajer. Asmara - Leban. Asmara - Sula'ahefera. Dekemhare - Mendefera. Dekemhare - Tsorona. Dekemhare - Nefasit. Mai Habar. Mendefera - Molki. Asmara - Assab. Mitsua Massawa.