Eritrea

Eritrea, a narrow sliver of land approximately the size of Pennsylvania, is situated by the Red Sea and has nearly half its border on the coast. Its history goes back several millennia having its beginnings in the ancient kingdoms of D’mt and Askum. These kingdoms presided over what is currently Eritrea along with the area which have become different countries in modern days. Its current borders are indebted to smaller Arabic kingdoms which lasted from the Middle Ages to modern ages. An agreement with Italy brought it under Italian control until the end of World War II. Ten years of British administration preceded its first independence, granted in 1952 and lasting only ten years. Ethiopia annexed Eritrea, despite its resistance, and the country’s second independence was dearly bought after thirty years of bloody opposition.

The memory of what independence cost was, perhaps, the initial reason for the extreme authoritarian control of its first and only president. However, the government has yet to relax its hold. The society has remained militaristic with the mandatory draft and rigid administration which was first instituted in the 90’s.

The recent wars and both external and internal oppression have made Eritrea one of Africa’s poorest nations. Nevertheless, over 75% of its six million citizens are literate. Tigrinya, Arabic, and English are the official languages. The country is divided between those who ascribe to Sunni Islam and those who claim Christianity. The title of Christianity takes in Catholics, Coptics, and even some forms of ethnic religions, leaving few Bible believers, if any.

Missionaries in Eritrea:

Missionaries in Africa (listed with BIMI account numbers)