COUNTRY PROFILE: ERITREA

September 2005

Formal Name: State of Eritrea (Hagere Ertra).

Short Form: Eritrea (Ertra).

Term for Citizen(s): Eritrean(s).

Capital: Asmara (alternate spelling Asmera).

Major Cities: Asmara, Keren, Assab, Massawa, Afabet, Teseney, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Adekeieh, Barentu, and Ghinda (according to decreasing size, 2005 estimates).

Independence: Eritrea officially celebrated its independence from Ethiopia on May 24, 1993.

Public Holidays: Eritrea observes the following public holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Independence Day (May 24), Martyrs’ Day (June 20), Anniversary of the Start of Armed Struggle (September 1), and Christmas Day (December 25). The following holidays with movable dates determined by the Islamic or Orthodox calendar are celebrated as well: Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, Epiphany, and Easter.

Flag: Eritrea’s flag is a rectangle divided into three triangles: a red isosceles

triangle based on the hoist side, and a green upper and blue lower right

triangle. A gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the

hoist side of the red triangle.