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Eritrea Travel Warning
This Travel Warning was issued on June 11, 2008, to update information on Eritrea’s current security situation. It reiterates the Department of State’s recommendation that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to Eritrea due to restrictions on travel outside the capital city of Asmara and heightened tensions along Eritrea’s borders with Ethiopia and Djibouti. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Eritrea issued on March 26, 2008. American citizens considering travel within Eritrea should be aware of the presence of large numbers of Eritrean and Ethiopian troops along the Eritrean-Ethiopian border, and acute political tensions between the two countries. In March 2008, the Government of the State of Eritrea’s (GSE) restrictions on diesel fuel supplies caused UNMEE detachments to withdraw from the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ), leaving no international observers monitoring the border. Since April, Djiboutian and Eritrean troops have been deployed along the northeastern border of Djibouti. The Djiboutian government claims Eritrean troops have crossed into its territory and on June 10, 2008, Djiboutian and Eritrean troops exchanged fire along their shared border. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid travel near the Eritrean-Ethiopian border and non-essential travel to the Southern Red Sea region, including the port of Assab.
The GSE continues to restrict the travel of all foreign nationals, including resident diplomats. These restrictions require all visitors and residents to apply with the GSE 10 days in advance for permission to travel outside Asmara city limits. As a result, the U.S. Embassy cannot provide consular assistance in an emergency outside of Asmara. Travelers also should be aware that that the GSE does not inform the U.S. Embassy when American citizens have been arrested or detained. The GSE has cited security and safety concerns as the reasons for requiring travel permits for all travel outside Asmara. Due to these revised travel restrictions, the U.S. Embassy cannot guarantee consular assistance in an emergency outside of Asmara, and the Department of State recommends U.S. citizens defer all non-essential travel at this time. American citizens also should be aware that tensions remain high due to the border dispute with Ethiopia Additionally, over the last year, some long-term expatriate residents were ordered to leave Eritrea on short notice and without explanation, while others are finding their activities subject to increased government scrutiny. Similarly, a number of international organizations have been asked to cease some or all of their operations in the country.
In October 2005, the GSE imposed significant restrictions on the UN Observer Mission (UNMEE) working in the temporary security zone on the Eritrean side of the disputed border, and ordered the departure of American, Canadian, European and Russian members of UNMEE staff. Other UN agencies in Eritrea ordered dependents to depart Eritrea in mid-November 2005. Americans currently living or traveling in Eritrea are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Asmara in person or through the State Department's travel registration web site,<https://travelregistration.state.gov/>, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Eritrea. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency and provide updates on the security situations. The U.S. Embassy is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211 , Asmara telephone (291-1) 12-00-04; fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-584; web site <http://asmara.usembassy.gov/> American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
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