Eritrea Festival 2023

Chargé d’affaires a.i. Leslie Freriksen enjoyed the opening ceremony of Eritrea Festival 2023, the celebratory atmosphere and the culture, lifestyle, music and dance of all of Eritrea’s nine ethnic groups from the six regions. A great event to visit and discover more about Eritrea’s diversity! Photo credit: @GhideonMusa.

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Certificate Handing Ceremony

On July 13, U.S. Embassy Asmara hosted a certificate ceremony for nine Eritreans who participated in various in-person and virtual exchange programs. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Leslie Freriksen congratulated the participants for successfully completing their respective programs. These cultural and educational exchange programs are key to bringing together Eritrean, American, and international students and professionals.  Congratulations to …

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Professional Long distance runner and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Champion.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we highlight Weini Kelati – a professional long distance runner and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Champion. One of Weini’s advice to new runners is, “Don’t be afraid of failure, because it’s the true avenue to success.” Go here to read her passion for running and her journey to …

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Educational Entrepreneur On Eritrean Culture Among BBC’s 100 Influential Women 2022

Congratulations to Kisanet Tedros, an Educational Entrepreneur on Eritrean culture, for being among BBC’s list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2022.  Kisanet is the founder of a YouTube channel – Beles Bubu – which teaches Eritrean children their language and culture.  Born and raised in Ethiopia, she has appreciated …

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Eritrean Cyclist is African Cyclist of the Year 2022

Congratulations to Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay for his election as African Cyclist of the Year 2022!  Biniam is the first rider to win this trophy for the third consecutive year since its creation in 2012.  Bravo Biniam!   Congratulations also to Eritrean riders Natnael Tesfazion, Henok Mulubrhan, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, and Dawit Yemane for being among …

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World AIDS Day

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) promotes this year’s World AIDS Day under the theme “Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV.” This theme echoes the U.S. government’s dedication to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat worldwide, and PEPFAR’s commitment to support people of all ages, sex, and …

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December 26 – Announcement from the Eritrean Government on Clarification of COVID-19 Guidelines

These are clarifications of the December 22 High Level Task Force COVID-19 Guidelines that will be in effect until the end of December 2020: Except those who work in activities related to development, safety, and essential services, everyone must avoid unnecessary movement and remain at home. Except for emergency cases or food purchases, all movement done – whether by foot, bicycle, …

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Health Alert

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Asmara, March 27, 2020 Location:  Eritrea Event: The Eritrean Ministry of Health has six confirmed cases of COVID-19. On March 26, the Eritrean Ministry of Health released a fifth Public Announcement regarding COVID-19 in Eritrea.  The language of this announcement is available on the website shabait.com – Ministry of Health: Public Announcement No. 5 . The government of …

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Health Alert

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Asmara, Eritrea, March 25, 2020 Location:  Asmara Event: The Eritrean Ministry of Health has confirmed one case of COVID-19 at the airport. On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure from any diplomatic or consular post in the world of US personnel and family members who have been medically determined …

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2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eritrea

Executive Summary The law and unimplemented constitution prohibit religiously motivated discrimination and provide for freedom of thought, conscience, and belief as well as the freedom to practice any religion.  The government recognizes four officially registered religious groups:  the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Sunni Islam, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea.  Unregistered …

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Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Asmara

Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Asmara (January 8, 2020) Location: Eritrea Event: Heightened Middle East Tensions There is heightened tension in the Middle East that may result in security risks to U.S. citizens abroad.  The Embassy will continue to review the security situation and will provide additional information as needed. Actions to Take: Keep a …

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Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa

“We commend Eritrea’s efforts to develop and implement a peace agreement with Ethiopia, and we hope the momentum of peacebuilding in the region leads to greater harmony between Djibouti and Eritrea.” – Permanent Representative of U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Kelly Craft, said in her remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on …

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Diversity Visa 2021 Program – Applications Open

The online registration period for the DV-2021 Program will last from noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Wednesday, October 2, 2019, until noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Applicants should submit entries for the DV-2021 program electronically at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ . There is no cost to register for the DV Program. Do not wait until …

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A Delegation from the U.S. Visits Eritrea

Chief of Mission Natalie E. Brown and the U.S. Embassy in Asmara welcomed September 26-28 a delegation from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the Office of International Religious Freedom for meetings with the Eritrean government, the diplomatic community, and representatives from the many faiths practiced in Eritrea.  During the visit, they …

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2019 Trafficking in Persons Report

2019 Trafficking in Persons Report: Eritrea JUNE 20, 2019 ERITREA: Tier 3 The Government of Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Eritrea remained on Tier 3. Despite the lack of significant efforts, during the reporting year the government …

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CALL FOR AFRICAN AND DIASPORA ENTREPRENEURS

Call for African and Diaspora Small and Medium Size Entrepreneurs (SMEs) who want to Grow! Join the Bootcamp in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania! The Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission invites African and Diaspora entrepreneurs to participate in the Scaling Up Your Business Bootcamp to be held from April 27th – …

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U.S. Congressional Delegation

Chief of Mission Natalie E. Brown welcomed the first U.S. Congressional delegation in 14 years, led by Congresswoman Karen Bass, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.  She was joined by freshmen Congress members Joe Neguse and Ilhan Omar. They met with Eritrean officials, members …

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U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Makila James, visited Eritrea

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Makila James, visited Eritrea from December 14 – 16. She met with Eritrean officials, enthusiastic Eritrean YALI members, had a chance to see the American Center Saturday English Class for 6th & 7th graders and talked with the students. She also met Eritrean women entrepreneurs and saw some …

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“Development, Diplomacy, and Defense: Promoting U.S. Interests in Africa”

Testimony Tibor P. Nagy, Jr. Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs House Foreign Affairs Committee Washington, DC December 12, 2018   Thank you Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and Members of the Committee for the opportunity to testify today on U.S. policy toward Africa, and to my colleague and friend Ramsey Day of USAID here with …

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Tibor Nagy visits Eritrea

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy visited Eritrea from December 3 – 5 and met with President Isaias Afwerki, government ministers, and other officials.  Meetings focused on developments in the region and ways to strengthen U.S.-Eritrean relations.  During his visit, Assistant Secretary Nagy also greeted U.S. Embassy employees, engaged representatives of …

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Chief of Mission Natalie E. Brown met with Eritrea’s Chargè d’affairs to the United States Mr. Berhane G. Solomon

A great occasion meeting my counterpart  @Gnatalie23  at the State Department today, having had courteous discussion on the new days after the lifting of the sanctions on  #Eritrea  & working together towards a bilateral  #Eritrea   #US  cooperation for the benefits of our two countries A great occasion meeting my counterpart @Gnatalie23 at the State Department today, having had courteous …

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The Future Belongs to Africa

Tibor P. Nagy, Jr. Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs As you read this, I am on my first trip to the continent of Africa as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs. I am delighted to return to the continent where I served for decades in a variety of roles, including Deputy …

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73rd Annual United Nations General Assembly

The United States looks forward to welcoming the nations of the world to New York for the 73rd annual UN General Assembly.  We urge them to come with a renewed dedication to meaningful diplomacy and a readiness to share the burden of global leadership that the United States has long shouldered.  As the President underscored …

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Assistant Secretary Tibor Nagy Speaks to Congress

Remarks Tibor P. Nagy, Jr. Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference Washington, DC September 14, 2018   Representative Bass, distinguished guests, scholars, colleagues, and friends. I’m honored to be in the company of so many friends of Africa. And I am especially pleased to have been invited to …

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Trafficking in Persons Report 2018

“This year’s report focuses on effective ways local communities can address human trafficking proactively and on how national governments can support and empower them. Local communities are the most affected by this abhorrent crime and are also the first line of defense against human trafficking. By engaging and training law enforcement, religious leaders, teachers, tribal …

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Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un at the Singapore Summit

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018. President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions …

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International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 – Eritrea

Executive Summary   The law and unimplemented constitution prohibit religiously motivated discrimination and provide for freedom of thought, conscience, and belief as well as the freedom to practice any religion. The government recognizes four officially registered religious groups: the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Sunni Islam, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea. …

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Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Yamamoto Travel to East Africa

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Ambassador Donald Y. Yamamoto will travel to Eritrea from April 22-24 for bilateral consultations with Eritrean government officials, to meet with the diplomatic community, and to visit the Embassy’s staff based in Asmara. He will then lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Djibouti Binational Forum April 24-25 in …

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Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017- Eritrea

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Eritrea is a highly centralized, authoritarian regime under the control of President Isaias Afwerki. The People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), headed by the president, is the sole political party. There have been no national-level elections since the country’s independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Civilian authorities in the regime generally maintained effective …

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Secretary Tillerson to Travel to Addis Ababa, Djibouti, Nairobi, N’Djamena, and Abuja

On his first official trip to Africa, Secretary Rex Tillerson will travel to N’Djamena, Chad; Djibouti, Djibouti; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Abuja, Nigeria, March 6-13, 2018. Secretary Tillerson will meet with leadership in each country, as well as the leadership of the African Union Commission based in Addis Ababa, to further our partnerships …

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Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Worldwide Caution

Embassy of the United States of America Asmara, Eritrea December 7, 2017 Security Message for U.S. Citizens:  Worldwide Caution As part of the Department of State’s continuous efforts to provide U.S. citizens traveling abroad with information about safety and security events, we are updating the Worldwide Caution with information on the continuing threat of terrorist …

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New Entry Period for Diversity Visa Program(DV-2019)

The  #DiversityVisa  Program will restart on October 18, 2017 and remain open until November 22, 2017. The application is free and available at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ . Additional information on the DV Program is available on the Department of State’s website.  #DV2019 Due to technical issues, applicants who submitted an entry before Wednesday, October 18, 2017, will not be considered …

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COM Visit to National Fistula Referral Center in Mendefera

On July 4 (also U.S. Independence Day), Chief of Mission Natalie E. Brown joined Minister of Health Amina Nur Husein; Dr. Ibrahim Sambuli, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Ms. Tekea Tesfamichael, President of the National Union of Eritrean Women; Dr. Habte Haylemelokot and other doctors, nurses, officials, and patients from the National …

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American Center’s Cultural Quiz

The American Center’s monthly Cultural Quiz was held on Saturday, June 17, 2017 with the theme of “Flag Day”. Fifteen participants joined us for a fun and educational day.  Join us for the next American cultural quiz in July. “Our flag carries American ideas, American history, and American feelings,” Henry Ward Beecher declared in 1861 …

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Paper Airplane Day at the American Center

On Saturday, May 27, 10-to-13-year-old students had a chance to learn how real airplanes fly and the critical role of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in building airplanes. After presentations from guest speakers, the students had the opportunity to build their own paper airplanes and compete to win educational materials. Later in the …

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Earth Day 2017 at the American Center

The American Center celebrated Earth Day by inviting visitors to an all-day information exposition with video presentations on climate change, sustainable energy and wild life conservation. Visitors were also given free seedlings to plant along with demonstrations and instructions on how to plant a tree. Dozens of visitors also took part in the Center’s Environmental …

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Celebration of 30,000 Likes on U.S. Embassy Facebook Page

On February 4, the Public Affairs Section hosted a day-long celebration at the American Center, in recognition of reaching 30,000 Likes on the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook Page. Public Affairs staff conducted mini-seminars on how to use the various features of Facebook. Chief of Mission Natalie E. Brown lead a cake-cutting ceremony to add extra fun …

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American Center Celebrates Black History Month

On February 1, the American Center kicked off its month-long series of special events to celebrate African American History Month. On Wednesday, February 1, the PAO took part in a discussion and Q & A session, after guests watched the first part of Henry Louis Gates’ documentary “Black American Since MLK.” On Thursday, February 2, American Center …

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End of Year Coffee Break

Embassy Asmara staff got together for mission-wide coffee break – complete with coffee ceremony — to bid farewell to 2016 and to wish each other a wonderful 2017. For the holiday occasion, Chief of Mission Brown, Office Manager Pam and her husband, Facilities Officer Craig, wore traditional dresses.

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“Our Ocean” Art Contest

On August 30th, more than one hundred local Eritrean artists, their friends and families attended an exhibition of the artisits’ works at the American Center. The art works were created to bring attention to the themes of the East Africian Our Ocean Campaign. The campaign is intended to draw attention to the issues of marine …

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Summer English Workshop Closing Ceremony

On August 18th, U.S. Acting Chargé d’Affaires Eric Whitaker welcomed the parents and family members of the students who participated in the American Center’s five week-long Children’s Summer English Workshop, to the Closing Ceremony. Sixty Eritrean 6th and 7th graders, who attend 11 different grade schools during the normal school year participated in this special …

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