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Eritrea

National football team returns under tight conditions from Afwerki

The Eritrean authorities are irritated by players defecting during international trips and want more dual nationals or athletes playing abroad.

Subscribers only Politics 17.09.2026

Eight candidates vie to become UN special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea

Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker in Geneva, Switzerland, in February 2024. © Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Subscribers only Diplomacy 03.07.2026

Asmara sends top diplomat to Geneva to oppose special rapporteur's mandate

Having historically opposed international missions scrutinising its human rights record, Eritrea has adapted its strategy. In Geneva, several countries echoed its talking points during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.06.2026

Assab port draws Egyptian firms

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki in Cairo, on 8 June 2026. © APA Images/Imago/Reuters

Subscribers only Infrastructure 15.06.2026

Eritrean refugees at the Hitsats camp in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, in February 2018.© Max Hirzel/Haytham/REA

UN special rapporteur concerned by plight of Eritreans in Ethiopia

On 15 June, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker will update the Human Rights Council in Geneva about the risks faced by Eritrean exiles in Ethiopia. Asmara may once again attempt to have this mandate terminated.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.06.2026

UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Aqaba, Jordan on 14 December 2024. © Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

Spotlight
Abu Dhabi weaves its digital web in Africa

Support for Somaliland's independence, coverage of the RSF's advance in Sudan, warnings against the rapprochement between Riyadh and Cairo: for several months now, the influential Visegrad24 platform has adopted a line close to the Emirati position on Africa. This shift is no coincidence.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 28.01.2026

Afars an unknown entity in Abiy's plans for port of Assab

In its quest for access to the Red Sea, the Ethiopian administration is sounding out the Afars for support. This community, spread across the border with Eritrea, is not entirely in favour of the armed struggle option.

Subscribers only Politics 31.10.2025

Donald Trump administration reaches out to Asmara

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the US President's Special Envoy for Africa, Massad Boulos, is scheduled to meet with the Eritrean foreign minister. Washington is concerned about the spread of conflicts in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.09.2025

Disunity among Eritrean Afar opposition

Several armed Eritrean opposition groups have recently established themselves in the Afar region in Ethiopia. In spite of their common desire to dislodge the Afwerki regime, they are struggling to find a way forward together.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 19.08.2025

Tigray readies its military leadership for war

At a time of rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Tigrayan leaders are reorganising their military chain of command in preparation for a possible conflict.

Debretsion Gebremichael at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, 16 February 2025.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 16.07.2025

Opposition group Brigade Nhamedu hires lobbyist in the US

An Eritrean opposition movement recently turned to a US law firm.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.07.2025

Abiy Ahmed powerless over reopening of Tigray-Eritrea border

The resumption of free movement across the country's northern border is beyond Addis Ababa's control. The federal government is trying to put a stop to both smuggling activities and the political rapprochement between Asmara and Mekele.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 03.07.2025

Kampala quietly blocks arrival of Eritrean asylum seekers

The Ugandan government wants to step up its fight against human trafficking and money laundering networks set up by Eritrean émigrés.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 10.06.2025

Afwerki's football tournament reduced to a bare minimum

The football competition organised by Eritrea to celebrate the country's independence brought together only two teams instead of three, due to a misunderstanding over who would cover the costs of the South Sudanese team's visit.

Subscribers only Politics 29.05.2025

Eritrean national team back on the pitch after five-year hiatus

The national football team last played in January 2020. At the end of May, Asmara will host an international tournament to mark the 32nd anniversary of the country's independence.

The Eritrean National Football team (white) goes against Uganda in Kampala, 19 December 2019.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.05.2025

In the face of Addis Ababa's ambitions, Eritrea looks for Red Sea support

Amid tensions with neighbouring Ethiopia threatening to spiral out of control, Asmara is looking to Riyadh and Cairo to rekindle security cooperation around the Red Sea.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 04.04.2025

Spotlight
Tigray leaders dangerously torn between Addis Ababa and Asmara

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea are at their lowest point since the end of the war in Tigray in 2022. Amid fears of a new conflict, both governments are trying to win over the Tigrayan leaders, who are more divided than ever.

TIA president Getachew Reda (l.) and TPLF president Debretsion Gebremichael (r.) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16 February 2025.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.02.2025

Eritrean diaspora's Brigade Nhamedu set to open Addis Ababa branch

The organisation of young people in exile opposed to head of state Isaias Afwerki's regime will open a local branch in the Ethiopian capital in the coming days.

Subscribers only Politics 07.02.2025

Eritreans detained in Ethiopia sue for release amid tense bilateral relations

In the midst of a verbal escalation between Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afwerki, Eritrean nationals in Ethiopia seem to be targetted by the authorities.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.12.2024

Exiled Eritrean opposition strives to protect refugee compatriots

The diaspora hopes to make the most of Ethiopia's apparent tolerance of Eritrean dissident groups to improve the lot of Eritrean refugees - and to prepare for a post-Isaias Afwerki era.

Subscribers only Politics 25.11.2024

Eritrea's football team resurrected to face Ethiopia

For the first time since January 2020 when they lost 1-0 at home in Asmara to Sudan in a friendly, the Eritrean men's national team will once more play an international football match.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.10.2024

Khartoum's relocated ambassadors struggle to cope

Several embassies that covered Eritrea from the Sudanese capital have had to take refuge in Ethiopia since the start of the civil war more than a year ago. But the historical rivalry and growing tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara are complicating their task.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.09.2024

Swiss seek mediation role in East African crises

Bern is looking to boost its influence by using its soft power to help address the many crises in the region. It is also hoping to grow trade with the continent.

Subscribers only Commodity Traders, Diplomacy 11.04.2024

AU enters final negotiations on Peace and Security Council line-up

The African Union's Executive Council is to decide today on the composition of the next Peace and Security Council, despite the East African region having yet to appoint its representatives. The North African countries have, however, come to an agreement.

A special session of the Peace and Security Council on Sudan at the AU HQ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 2 May 2023.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.02.2024

Eritrean Football Association and government clash over World Cup qualifiers

Eritrea is considering withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, fearing players might see them as an opportunity to run away.

Free access Diplomacy 07.11.2023

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Eritrea

National football team returns under tight conditions from Afwerki

Eight candidates vie to become UN special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea

Asmara sends top diplomat to Geneva to oppose special rapporteur's mandate

Assab port draws Egyptian firms

UN special rapporteur concerned by plight of Eritreans in Ethiopia

Spotlight
Abu Dhabi weaves its digital web in Africa

Afars an unknown entity in Abiy's plans for port of Assab

Donald Trump administration reaches out to Asmara

Disunity among Eritrean Afar opposition

Tigray readies its military leadership for war

Opposition group Brigade Nhamedu hires lobbyist in the US

Abiy Ahmed powerless over reopening of Tigray-Eritrea border

Kampala quietly blocks arrival of Eritrean asylum seekers

Afwerki's football tournament reduced to a bare minimum

Eritrean national team back on the pitch after five-year hiatus

In the face of Addis Ababa's ambitions, Eritrea looks for Red Sea support

Spotlight
Tigray leaders dangerously torn between Addis Ababa and Asmara

Eritrean diaspora's Brigade Nhamedu set to open Addis Ababa branch

Eritreans detained in Ethiopia sue for release amid tense bilateral relations

Exiled Eritrean opposition strives to protect refugee compatriots

Eritrea's football team resurrected to face Ethiopia

Khartoum's relocated ambassadors struggle to cope

Swiss seek mediation role in East African crises

AU enters final negotiations on Peace and Security Council line-up

Eritrean Football Association and government clash over World Cup qualifiers

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Eritrea

National football team returns under tight conditions from Afwerki

Eight candidates vie to become UN special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea

Asmara sends top diplomat to Geneva to oppose special rapporteur's mandate

Assab port draws Egyptian firms

UN special rapporteur concerned by plight of Eritreans in Ethiopia

Spotlight Abu Dhabi weaves its digital web in Africa

Afars an unknown entity in Abiy's plans for port of Assab

Donald Trump administration reaches out to Asmara

Disunity among Eritrean Afar opposition

Tigray readies its military leadership for war

Opposition group Brigade Nhamedu hires lobbyist in the US

Abiy Ahmed powerless over reopening of Tigray-Eritrea border

Kampala quietly blocks arrival of Eritrean asylum seekers

Afwerki's football tournament reduced to a bare minimum

Eritrean national team back on the pitch after five-year hiatus

In the face of Addis Ababa's ambitions, Eritrea looks for Red Sea support

Spotlight Tigray leaders dangerously torn between Addis Ababa and Asmara

Eritrean diaspora's Brigade Nhamedu set to open Addis Ababa branch

Eritreans detained in Ethiopia sue for release amid tense bilateral relations

Exiled Eritrean opposition strives to protect refugee compatriots

Eritrea's football team resurrected to face Ethiopia

Khartoum's relocated ambassadors struggle to cope

Swiss seek mediation role in East African crises

AU enters final negotiations on Peace and Security Council line-up

Eritrean Football Association and government clash over World Cup qualifiers

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight
Abu Dhabi weaves its digital web in Africa

Spotlight
Tigray leaders dangerously torn between Addis Ababa and Asmara