Briefing d'orientation en Érythrée

Eritrea won independence from Italian colonial control in 1941, but the UN only established it as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952, after a decade of British administrative control. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service -- divided between military and civilian service -- of indefinite length.

A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in 2000. Ethiopia rejected a subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 when the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Eritrean leaders then engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, but the level of air transport, trade, and tourism have remained roughly the same since late 2020.

The Eritrean economy remains agriculture-dependent, and the country is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression, and conscription and militarization continue.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. 

FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of all of Eritrea’s land borders.

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Eritrea.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia are high. If a crisis develops in Eritrea, the situation could change quickly, including your ability to travel within Eritrea or leave the country. Practical support from the British government such as face-to-face consular support or evacuation may be severely limited in a crisis. Read our general guidance on consular support in a crisis.

Be prepared to re-arrange your own departure from Eritrea if a crisis develops. If it is not safe or possible to leave, you should:

• stay indoors whenever possible, and have a stock of essential supplies such as food, drinking water and medicine
• obey any local restrictions such as curfews
• monitor the media for developments that would allow you to leave safely

Support for British nationals in Eritrea

Consular support is severely limited in parts of Eritrea. Staff at the British Embassy in Asmara cannot offer support in person in areas of Eritrea where FCDO advises against travel. Diplomats at the British Embassy require travel permits from the Eritrean government to travel outside Asmara, which means the Embassy cannot always provide consular assistance in person in parts of Eritrea.

Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw the dependants of our UK staff in Eritrea. Our Embassy continues to operate.

The Eritrean authorities may not inform the British Embassy if a British national is in need of help. There have been instances where the Eritrean authorities have refused to give the Embassy consular access to detained foreign nationals.

If you’re in Eritrea and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked or arrested, or someone has died), get in touch using the below:

• during office hours, visit the British Embassy in Asmara at 66-68 Mariam Ghimbi Street. Office hours are Monday-Thursday between 8am and 4:30pm or Friday between 8am and 12:30pm

• for out of hours support, call the British Embassy Addis Ababa on +251 116 170 100 or the Foreign Office in London on +44 207 008 5000

British-Eritrean dual nationals

If you are a British-Eritrean dual national or are of Eritrean origin, the Eritrean authorities consider you to be an Eritrean national. You may therefore be subject to obligations including taxes and national service. This may apply if you hold identity documents issued by Eritrea’s Department of Immigration and Nationality, including out of date documents, or if you do not hold these documents but are of Eritrean origin. The British Embassy is unable to offer consular assistance to dual nationals in Eritrea.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

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This guide also has safety advice for regions of Eritrea.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.   

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Eritrea

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Eritrea, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Military activity in the Red Sea area       

Military activity is currently underway in response to attempts by Houthi militants to prevent movement of international shipping in the Red Sea. While the area of activity is limited to the Red Sea and Yemen, there is a possibility that Travel Advice for nearby countries could change at short notice. You should continue to monitor Travel Advice and follow any relevant instructions from local authorities.

Political situation

Local security measures

There are  periodically reports of conscription surges and mobilisation of reservists in Eritrea, connected to regional instability of the Horn of Africa. Security measures may be in place around Asmara and other regions of Eritrea. Get advice from your host, accommodation or travel operator.

Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia are high. The security situation could change with little notice.

Stay away from areas that are close to security/military installations or activity. Security/military locations can change, so seek local advice where possible.

Armed civilians

A large proportion of the population has access to arms under the government of Eritrea’s civilian militia programme. The British Embassy has no evidence these weapons increase the threat of violent crime.

Travel permits

Foreign nationals must apply in advance for a permit to travel outside Asmara’s surrounding province, Zoba Maekel, as well as to certain sites within the capital like the ‘tank graveyard’. There are checkpoints outside Asmara where officials will check your travel permit. Applications for permits are handled by the relevant ministry:

• Ministry of Trade and Industry for business travellers
• Ministry of Tourism, Harnet Avenue, for tourists
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomats

Applications may take several days to be processed and are not always successful.

When applying, you must give details of the car you’ll be travelling in. There have been reports of authorities not allowing tourists to use public transport for travel outside of Asmara.

If you are living or working outside Asmara, you will also need a travel permit to leave your area of residence or work. Apply to the local region (‘zoba’) administration office.

Restrictions on travel by foreign nationals apply equally to foreign diplomats. Staff from the British Embassy cannot always provide consular assistance in person to British nationals outside Asmara.

Crime

Protecting yourself and your belongings

Though Asmara is a relatively safe city, there is a risk of street crime, especially at night. Women travellers can experience verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. To reduce your personal risk: 

• do not walk alone at night
• keep phones, cameras and passports out of sight
• keep valuables somewhere secure, such as in a hotel safe

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

You must always carry ID. A copy of the photo page of your passport is enough. Keep the original and a second copy in a safe place.

Internet and phone access

Internet access is highly restricted in Eritrea, mainly limited to hotels and a small number of internet cafes. There is no 3G in the country. The national telephone networks are often unreliable and may only work for limited periods each day outside Asmara and larger towns.

International SIM cards do not work in Eritrea. You need a residence permit to buy a local SIM card and this can take several weeks. There have been unconfirmed reports that phone calls made on the Eritrean mobile network are recorded.

Photography

Photographing government buildings and military installations is illegal. Always ask if you want to take a photo in any area where security personnel are present. You need a permit to take photographs of the ‘tank graveyard’ in Asmara. You can apply for a permit at the Ministry of Tourism.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal. If convicted, you can get a prison sentence.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Transport risks

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in Eritrea, you will need a 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence. You cannot get an IDP outside the UK so get one before you travel.

Take both your IDP and UK driving license to the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and they will issue you with a driving permit.

See information on driving abroad.

Road conditions

Road signage and safety barriers are scarce and road surfaces are uneven. Tight blind bends and steep drops are common. Street lighting is limited and may be affected by power cuts. Other drivers may drive without lights and some drive erratically or at speed. In many parts of the country, roads are difficult or impassable during the rainy season.

Air travel

The runway at Asmara International Airport is occasionally damaged by weather conditions, particularly during the rainy season. If this happens, flights may be delayed or cancelled until the runway has been repaired, and travellers may experience significant disruption.

The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Eritrea that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Check whether your tour operator has concerns about airlines in Eritrea.

Sea travel

Mariners should get permissions and entry visas before attempting to enter Eritrean waters. Vessels have been impounded and crew detained for entering Eritrean waters or landing in Eritrea, including islands belonging to Eritrea without permission.

Piracy risk

The Southern Red Sea area is a hotspot for maritime crime and security incidents.  

There is still a significant risk of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, where piracy has been reduced but not prevented. The threat assessment of the combined international naval counter-piracy forces is that sailing yachts should not enter the designated high-risk area, due to the risk of hijacking.

This section has safety advice for regions of Eritrea. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.

Military activity in the Red Sea area  

There is a risk of military activity is currently underway in response to attempts by Houthi militants to prevent movement of international shipping in the Red Sea. While the area of activity is limited to the Red Sea and Yemen, there is a possibility that the situation could change at short notice. You should:  

• read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”

• sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts

• monitor local and international media for the latest information

Eritrea-Djibouti border

FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of Eritrea’s border with Djibouti.  

In 2008 there was fighting between Djibouti and Eritrea after an incursion of Eritrean forces into the disputed Djibouti border region. The situation remains fragile.

Eritrea-Ethiopia border

FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of Eritrea’s border with Ethiopia because of military activity on both sides of the border.

Eritrea-Sudan border

FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of Eritrea’s border with Sudan because of military activity on both sides of the border.

Hanish Islands

It is highly unlikely that Eritrean authorities will issue permits for any vessels to visit the south-western Hanish Islands. These islands are very close to the conflict in Yemen. The authorities have previously detained mariners who landed without a permit. 

Landmines near borders

There is a risk of landmines near Eritrea’s borders, particularly in the Eritrea-Ethiopia and Eritrea-Djibouti border areas. If you are in the border area against FCDO advice, do not leave the main paved highways by car or on foot.

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 122244 and ask for an ambulance. Please note that the call handler may not speak English.

Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccination recommendations and health risks in TravelHealthPro’s Eritrea guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Eritrea. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.

Medication

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

There is a limited range of medicines available in Eritrea, and many of those are produced locally. If you’re taking prescription medication, make sure you have a supply for your stay plus a contingency.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad.

Healthcare facilities in Eritrea

There are 3 public hospitals in Asmara. Public hospitals in other towns are often poorly equipped. In rural areas medical facilities are even more limited. If you’re travelling away from the large towns, carry a comprehensive medical pack with you.

FCDO has a list of medical facilities in Eritrea where some staff will speak English.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.