A small country in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea has enjoyed relative political stability under the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), and its autocratic leader Isaias Afewerki. However, the authoritarian regime of Afewerki has failed to implement the constitution that was drafted after independence and has repeatedly postponed presidential elections citing a threat to national security. The government controls all media outlets in the country and aggressively represses any form of political dissent. A well-organized political opposition in exile has largely failed in challenging the regime domestically.
The current economic situation in the country is bleak and the majority of Eritreans live in poverty. The investment climate has historically been undermined by state authoritarian rule, poor infrastructure, and international sanctions, although the removal of UN sanctions in November 2018 and rapprochement with Ethiopia have recently led to a slight improvement in investor confidence.
The country’s border regions have also proved to be unstable and Eritrea has a history of clashing with its neighbors over territorial disputes. In June 2018, Eritrea began a rapprochement process with Ethiopia after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that his government would cede the town of Badme to Eritrea, ending the two countries’ 20-year border dispute. The rapid thawing of tensions led to the reinstallation of telephone connections and direct commercial flights between the two countries. However, the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia remains closed with a high presence of Eritrean armed forces across the border after Ethiopia launched a military operation against the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the Tigray region. Moreover, Eritrea’s border dispute with Djibouti remains unresolved and continues to be a source of instability in the east of the country.
Although roads between major cities are generally paved, the country’s road network remains underdeveloped and many border and remote areas suffer from significant landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination. The movement of foreign nationals within the country continues to be restricted and a permit is required for foreigners traveling outside of Asmara.
The primary threats to foreign travelers in Eritrea come from state surveillance, road traffic collisions, and health hazards. Levels of criminal activity tend to be a relatively low and violent crime is uncommon, although there is anecdotal evidence that crime has been slowly increasing in recent years. Armed rebel and militia groups are known to operate in some border areas, including along the borders with Sudan and Ethiopia.
Source link : https://crisis24.garda.com/insights-intelligence/intelligence/country-reports/eritrea
Author :
Publish date : 2021-04-03 22:55:09
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
