Editing History of Eritrea (section)

== After independence ==
The first [[President of Eritrea]], [[Isaias Afwerki]], has been the President of Eritrea since 1993. [[People's Front for Democracy and Justice]] (PFDJ) is the only legal political party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13349078|title = Eritrea country profile|work = BBC News|date = 15 November 2018}}</ref>

On October 25, 1994, the president of Eritrea revoked the citizenship of all of Jehovah's Witnesses born there.  While Jehovah's Witnesses are politically neutral, peaceful and obey the laws and pay taxes, they are rounded up and imprisoned simply for their Christian faith.

[[Image:Eritrea-CIA WFB Map.png|thumb|right|300px|Eritrea after the independence in 1993]]
In July 1996 the [[Constitution of Eritrea]] was ratified, but it has yet to be implemented.

In 1998 a border dispute with Ethiopia, over the town of [[Badme]], led to the [[Eritrean-Ethiopian War]] in which thousands of soldiers from both countries died. Eritrea suffered from significant economic and social stress, including massive population displacement, reduced economic development, and one of Africa's most severe [[land mine]] problems.

The border war ended in 2000 with the signing of the [[Algiers Agreement (2000)|Algiers Agreement]]. Amongst the terms of the agreement was the establishment of a UN peacekeeping operation, known as the [[United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea]] (UNMEE); with over 4,000 UN peacekeepers. The UN established a temporary security zone consisting of a 25-kilometre [[demilitarized zone|demilitarized buffer zone]] within Eritrea, running along the length of the disputed border between the two states and patrolled by UN troops. Ethiopia was to withdraw to positions held before the outbreak of hostilities in May 1998. The Algiers agreement called for a final demarcation of the disputed border area between Eritrea and Ethiopia by the assignment of an independent, UN-associated body known as the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC), whose task was to clearly identify the border between the two countries and issue a final and binding ruling. The peace agreement would be completed with the implementation of the Border Commission's ruling, which would also end the task of the peacekeeping mission. After extensive study, the Commission issued a final border ruling in April 2002, which awarded some territory to each side, but Badme (the flash point of the conflict) was awarded to Eritrea. The commission's decision was rejected by Ethiopia. The border question remains in dispute, with Ethiopia refusing to withdraw its military from positions in the disputed areas, including Badme, while a "difficult" peace remains in place.

The UNMEE mission was formally abandoned in July 2008, after experiencing serious difficulties in sustaining its troops after fuel stoppages.

Furthermore, Eritrea's diplomatic relations with [[Djibouti]] were briefly severed during the border war with Ethiopia in 1998 due to a dispute over Djibouti's intimate relation with Ethiopia during the war but were restored and normalized in 2000. Relations are again tense due to a renewed border dispute. Similarly, Eritrea and [[Yemen]] had a border conflict between 1996 and 1998 over the Hanish Islands and the maritime border, which was resolved in 2000 by the [[Permanent Court of Arbitration]] in [[the Hague]].

Eritrea has  improved  health care, and is on track to meet its [[Millennium Development Goal]]s (MDG) for health, in particular child health.<ref name=ODI1>{{cite web |last1=Rodríguez Pose |first1=Romina |last2=Samuels |first2=Fiona |date=December 2010 |website=Overseas Development Institute |url=http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5179&title=progress-health-eritrea-cost-effective-inter-sectoral-interventions-long-term-perspective |url-status=dead |title=Progress in health in Eritrea: Cost-effective inter-sectoral interventions and a long-term perspective |location=London |publisher=[[Overseas Development Institute]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228112540/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5179&title=progress-health-eritrea-cost-effective-inter-sectoral-interventions-long-term-perspective |archive-date=28 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Life expectancy]] at birth increased from 39.1 years in 1960 to 59.5 years in 2008; maternal and [[child mortality]] rates dropped dramatically and the health infrastructure expanded.<ref name=ODI1/> 
[[File:En visualize explore tree map hs92 export eri all show 2013 (4).png|thumb|upright=1.50|Eritrea's main exports, 2013]]
[[Immunization|Immunisation]] and child nutrition have been tackled by working closely with schools in a multi-sectoral approach; the number of children vaccinated against [[measles]] almost doubled in seven years, from 40.7% to 78.5% and the prevalence  of underweight children decreased by 12% from 1995 to 2002 (severe underweight prevalence by 28%).<ref name=ODI1/> The National Malaria Protection Unit of the Ministry of Health registered reductions in [[malaria]]l mortality by as much as 85% and in the number of cases by 92% between 1998 and 2006.<ref name=ODI1/> The Eritrean government has banned [[female genital mutilation]] (FGM), saying the practice was painful and put women at risk of life-threatening health problems.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=71199 |title=IRIN Africa &#124; ERITREA: Government outlaws female genital mutilation &#124; Human Rights |agency=IRIN |date=5 April 2007 |access-date=17 July 2011}}</ref><ref name=ODI1/> [[Malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]] are common.<ref name="afro.who.int">Health profile at [http://www.afro.who.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1029&Itemid=2070 Eritrea WHO Country Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604173009/http://www.afro.who.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1029&Itemid=2070 |date=2010-06-04 }}. afro.who.int</ref> [[HIV]] prevalence for ages 15 to 49 years exceeds 2%.<ref name="afro.who.int"/>

Due to his frustration with the stalemated peace process with Ethiopia, the President of Eritrea [[Isaias Afewerki]] wrote a series of [[s:Eleven Letters|Eleven Letters]] to the [[UN Security Council]] and [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]].  Despite the [[Algiers Agreement (2000)|Algiers Agreement]], tense relations with Ethiopia have continued and led to regional instability. His government has also been condemned for allegedly arming and financing the [[insurgency in Somalia]]; the [[United States]] is considering labeling Eritrea a "[[State Sponsor of Terrorism]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/worldlatest/story/0,,-6857330,00.html |title=US Considers Terror Label for Eritrea |access-date=2007-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029163732/http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0%2C%2C-6857330%2C00.html |archive-date=2007-10-29 |location=London |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/world/africa/18eritrea.html|title=Eritreans Deny American Accusations of Terrorist Ties|access-date=2007-11-19 | work=The New York Times | first=Jeffrey | last=Gettleman | date=2007-09-18}}</ref>

In December 2007, an estimated 4000 Eritrean troops remained in the 'demilitarized zone' with a further 120,000 along its side of the border.  Ethiopia maintained 100,000 troops along its side.<ref>[http://economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10286359 "Ethiopia and Eritrea: Bad words over Badme"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517043507/http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10286359 |date=2008-05-17 }}, ''[[The Economist]]'', 13 December 2007</ref>

In September, 2012, the Israeli ''[[Haaretz]]'' newspaper published an exposé on Eritrea. There are over 40,000 Eritrean refugees in Israel. The NGO [[Reporters Without Borders]] has ranked Eritrea in last in freedom of expression since 2007, even lower than North Korea.<ref>{{cite news|last=Halper|first=Yishai|title='The North Korea of Africa': Where you need a permit to have dinner with friends|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/the-north-korea-of-africa-where-you-need-a-permit-to-have-dinner-with-friends.premium-1.463319|access-date=7 September 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=7 September 2012}}</ref>

The [[2013 Eritrean Army mutiny]] took place on 21 January 2013, when around 100–200 soldiers of the [[Eritrean Army]] in the capital city [[Asmara]] briefly seized the headquarters of the state broadcaster, [[EriTV]], and broadcast a message demanding reforms and the release of political prisoners.<ref name="AFP_2013_mutiny">{{cite news|title=Eritrea mutiny over as government, opposition say 'all calm'|date=2013-01-22|agency=[[Agence France Presse|AFP]]|newspaper=[[Al-Ahram]] |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/63024/World/International/Eritrea-mutiny-over-as-government,-opposition-say-.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210321221717/https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/63024/World/International/Eritrea-mutiny-over-as-government,-opposition-say-.aspx|archive-date=2021-03-21|access-date=2021-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 February 2013, president Isaias Afwerki commented on the mutiny, describing it as nothing to worry about.<ref name="Sudan1">{{cite news |last=Tekle |first=Tesfa-Alem |title=Eritrea's president breaks silence over army mutiny incident |url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article45468 |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=11 October 2013 |archive-date=2013-10-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131011230305/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article45468 |newspaper=[[Sudan Tribune]] |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2018, President Isaias Afwerki and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, [[Abiy Ahmed]], signed a historic peace agreement between the two countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2019/abiy/facts/|title = The Nobel Peace Prize 2019}}</ref>

On 8 July 2017, the entire capital city of Asmara was listed as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], with the inscription taking place during the 41st World Heritage Committee Session.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1550/|title=Asmara: A Modernist African City|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/1026237/eritreas-asmara-is-now-a-unesco-world-heritage-site-and-should-boost-tourism/|title=Eritrea's picturesque capital is now a World Heritage site and could help bring it in from the cold|first=Tom Gardner|last=Commentary|website=Quartz Africa|date=11 July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/12/eritrea-capital-asmara-makes-unesco-world-heritage-list/|title=Eritrea capital, Asmara, makes UNESCO World Heritage list &#124; Africanews|access-date=2020-04-26|archive-date=2020-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304162652/https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/12/eritrea-capital-asmara-makes-unesco-world-heritage-list//|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/eritreas-capital-added-to-unesco-world-heritage-site-list/a-39609655|title=Eritrea's capital added to UNESCO World Heritage site list &#124; DW &#124; 08.07.2017|website=DW.COM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apollo-magazine.com/eritrea-italy-modernist-architecture/|title=The modernist marvels of Eritrea|date=19 November 2019|website=Apollo Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/design/asmara-eritrea-art-deco-unesco-architecture-italy-little-rome-world-heritage-a8040871.html|title=Exploring Eritrea's UNESCO certified Art-Deco wonderland|date=9 November 2017|website=The Independent}}</ref>

===Relations with neighbours===
{{see also|2008 Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict|2010 Eritrea–Ethiopia border skirmish}}
The BBC published on 19 June 2008 a timeline of Eritrea's conflict with Ethiopia to that date and reported that the "Border dispute rumbles on":<ref name="19-June-2008">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1070861.stm|title=Eritrea profile - Timeline|date=15 November 2018|publisher=BBC News|website=www.bbc.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009090421/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13349395/|archive-date=9 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2007 September – War could resume between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their border conflict, warns United Nations special envoy to the Horn of Africa, [[Kjell Magne Bondevik]].
* 2007 November – Eritrea accepts border line demarcated by international boundary commission. Ethiopia rejects it.
* 2008 January – UN extends mandate of peacekeepers on Ethiopia-Eritrea border for six months. UN Security Council demands Eritrea lift fuel restrictions imposed on UN peacekeepers at the Eritrea-Ethiopia border area. Eritrea declines, saying troops must leave border.
* 2008 February – UN begins pulling 1,700-strong peacekeeper force out due to lack of fuel supplies following Eritrean government restrictions.
* 2008 April – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon warns of likelihood of new war between Ethiopia and Eritrea if peacekeeping mission withdraws completely. Outlines options for the future of the UN mission in the two countries.
* 2008 May – Eritrea calls on UN to terminate peacekeeping mission.

In relation to the [[Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict]]:
* 2008 April — [[Djibouti]] accuses Eritrean troops of digging trenches at disputed [[Ras Doumeira]] border area and infiltrating Djiboutian territory.<ref name=AFP>{{cite news |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gL9QNBhsJcQ2P1Nemm-xo5bSLMkQ |title=Djibouti-Eritrea border skirmishes subside as toll hits nine |publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=June 13, 2008 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615151607/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gL9QNBhsJcQ2P1Nemm-xo5bSLMkQ |archive-date=2008-06-15 }}</ref> Eritrea denies charge.
* 2008 June – Fighting breaks out between Eritrean and Djiboutian troops.<ref name=BBC-2008-06-12>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7450075.stm |title=US condemns Eritrea 'aggression' |publisher=BBC News |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=June 15, 2008}}</ref>
* 2009, 23 December — the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1907|UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Eritrea]] for providing support to armed groups undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia and because it had not withdrawn its forces following clashes with Djibouti in June 2008. The sanctions consisted of an [[arms embargo]], travel restrictions and a freeze on the assets of its political and military leaders.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.un.org/press/en/2009/sc9833.doc.htm| title = Security Council Imposes Sanctions on Eritrea over Its Role in Somalia, Refusal to Withdraw Troops Following Conflict with Djibouti }}</ref> The sanctions were reinforced on 5 December 2011.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.un.org/press/en/2011/sc10471.doc.htm| title = Security Council, by Vote of 13 in Favour, Adopts Resolution Reinforcing Sanctions Regime against Eritrea 'Calibrated' to Halt All Activities Destabilizing Region}}</ref>
* 2010 June — Djibouti and Eritrea agreed to refer the dispute to [[Qatar]] for mediation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/eritrea-djibouti-to-enter-mediation-on-border-issue-95862894/154801.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205192849/http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Eritrea-Djibouti-to-Enter-Mediation-on-Border-Issue-95862894.html |url-status=live |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |title=African Union Praises Eritrea, Djibouti Border Mediation |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |date=June 7, 2010 |access-date=8 June 2010 }}</ref> 
* 2017 June — Following the [[2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis]], Qatar withdrew its peacekeeping forces from the disputed territory. Shortly after, Djibouti accused Eritrea of reoccupying the mainland hill and Doumeira Island.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-djibouti-eritrea-border-idUSKBN1971JR |title=Djibouti, Eritrea in territorial dispute after Qatar peacekeepers leave |work=Reuters |date=June 16, 2017}}</ref>

In relation to southern [[Somalia]]: In December 2009, the [[United Nations Security Council]] imposed sanctions on [[Eritrea]], accusing it of arming and providing financial aid to militia groups in southern Somalia's conflict zones.<ref name="Erunribsr">{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62F297|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118225306/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62F297|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2016|title=Eritrea rejects U.N. report it backs Somali rebels|publisher=Reuters|date= March 16, 2010|access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref> 
<ref name="wapo20120705">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-hits-2-eritrean-army-officers-with-sanctions-for-supporting-radical-somali-islamists/2012/07/05/gJQAL2ckPW_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822030507/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-hits-2-eritrean-army-officers-with-sanctions-for-supporting-radical-somali-islamists/2012/07/05/gJQAL2ckPW_story.html|archive-date=2016-08-22|title=US hits 2 Eritrean army officers with sanctions for supporting radical Somali Islamists|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2012-07-05|agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 16, 2012, a United Nations Monitoring Group reported that "it had found no evidence of direct Eritrean support for militia groups in the past year."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-eritrea-somalia-un-idUKBRE86F0AI20120716|title=Eritrea reduces support for al Shabaab – U.N. report|publisher=Reuters|date=July 16, 2012|access-date=July 16, 2012|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212709/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/16/uk-eritrea-somalia-un-idUKBRE86F0AI20120716|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since November 2020, Eritrea has been involved in the [[Tigray War]] (see [[Eritrean involvement in the Tigray War]]).