Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today,
ERITREA
February 18, 2009
U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Eritrea and recommends that U.S. citizens
defer travel at this time. This replaces the Travel Warning dated November 15, 2008, and informs U.S. citizens that the consular
section of the U.S. Embassy in Asmara has re-opened for all American Citizen Services.
The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens defer travel to Eritrea because of Eritrean government restrictions
on travel outside the capital city of Asmara and heightened tensions along Eritrea's borders with Ethiopia and Djibouti.
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 Eritrean
restrictions on diesel fuel supplies caused the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea's detachments to withdraw from
the Temporary Security Zone, leaving no international observers monitoring the border.
Since April 2008, 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 to the Southern Red Sea region,
including the port of Assab.
The Eritrean government continues to restrict the travel of all foreign nationals, including resident diplomats. These restrictions
require all visitors and residents to apply ten days in advance for permission to travel outside the Asmara city limits.
As a result, the U.S. Embassy cannot provide emergency consular assistance outside of Asmara. The Eritrean government does
not inform the U.S. Embassy when American citizens have been arrested or detained.
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 an emergency and provide updates on the security situation. The U.S. Embassy is
located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211, Asmara; telephone (291-1) 12-00-04, available 24 hours in case of emergency; fax
(291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-584; web site http://asmara.usembassy.gov/.
For additional information, consult the Department of State's Country Specific Information sheet for Eritrea and the Worldwide Caution at http://travel.state.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.