The Eritrean Government continues to restrict the movement of all foreign nationals. These restrictions require all visitors and residents, including U.S. diplomats, to apply in advance for permission to travel outside the limits of the city of Asmara. Recently, the Eritrean Government has begun to refuse any new diplomatic trip of permit applications; This situation can continue indefinitely. Accordingly, the Embassy of the United States cannot provide consular assistance to emergency outside of Asmara.
A number of citizens double Eritrean-Americans were arrested without apparent cause. Once arrested, may be held for long periods without the be told him the purpose of their incarceration. The conditions are difficult - prisoners can fit in very small areas without access to toilets, bedding, food or drinking water. The Government of Eritrea does not inform the Embassy of the United States when the citizens of the United States, including those that are not dual nationals, have been arrested or detained.
Media controlled by the Eritrean Government frequently broadcasts anti-American rhetoric and have done since December, 2009, when the United Nations imposed sanctions on Eritrea.? Although no there was no specific incident of violence targeting American citizens citizens of United States are asked to exercise caution and avoid demonstrations.? Even peaceful demonstrations can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.? U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.
U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid travel near the border with Eritrea and Ethiopia and in the southern region of the Red Sea, including the port of Assab, as there have been military tensions in these areas.
American citizens on ships and boats sailing are strongly recommended not step to try to dock in Eritrean ports or travel in Eritrean waters.
In December 2010, a British ship, tempting to the full to Massawa was arrested by the Eritrean authorities and his crew of four was not released.? Additional ships with the nationals of other countries being held for several months have been reported.? In almost all cases, the Government of Eritrea was not a ground of detention, no consular access. The port of Assab is closed to private vessels.
US citizens choose to travel to Eritrea must obtain an Eritrean visa prior to their arrival in Eritrea.? People arriving by ship probably won't be able to obtain an Eritrean visa.? In addition, fuel and provisions are often not available at Massawa and other parts of Eritrea and are often limited to Asmara.
American citizens considering travel within Eritrea should be aware of the Ethiopian and Eritrean presence of a large number of troops along the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia and acute political tensions between the two countries. In March 2008, Eritrean restrictions on the supply diesel caused the Mission of the United Nations in detachments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to withdraw from the Temporary Security Zone, leaving no monitoring on the border of international observers.? The clashes between the troops of the two countries resulted in death in January and February of 2010.
Although the Eritrean forces withdrawn from the territory to the border with Djibouti in a mediation conducted by the Qatar effort, the tensions in this area remain high.
In April 2010, the explosion of a bomb just above the border with Ethiopia killed five people and injured 20.? In May 2010, 13 people were injured when a bomb exploded in a bus just over the border with Ethiopia.? In July 2010, 78 people were killed in Kampala, Uganda, including Eritreans and a U.S. citizen.? Although we are not aware of specific threats against American citizens in Eritrea, Kampala bombings marked the first time that the base Somali, designated to the U.S. terrorist organization foreign al Shabaab terrorist groupwhich threatened American citizens, has demonstrated an ability to operate outside its base in Somalia.
The deterioration of economic conditions (lack of availability of household goods within the common market, operations of Government of goods such as flour, sugar and oil cooking; and the rapid price inflation of these few elements which can still be found in stores) in Eritrea have led to a significant increase in crime, especially in Asmara.? The combination of constraint open-ended, poorly paid national service of many Eritreans and serious problems of unemployment leads to some Eritreans crime as the only way to support their family.? Eritrean authorities have limited capacity to deter or to investigate such acts or to pursue the perpetrators.
The section United States in Asmara Embassy consular, if closed for most visa services, is fully open for citizen of the United States services. U.S. citizens currently living or traveling in Eritrea are strongly encouraged to register with the Embassy American website of the program of the registration of the Smart traveller (STEP) of the Department of State to obtain updated information on travel and security within Eritrea. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in an emergency and provide updates on the security situation.? The Embassy of the United States in Asmara is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211, Asmara; Phone (291-1) 12-00-04, available 24 hours in an emergency. Fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-584.
For more information, consult the specific sheet of countries of the Department of State for Eritrea and the warning around the world. Travellers can also obtain the updated information on security conditions by calling the 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and at Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
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