Eritrea Profile

Total Area:
121,320 sq. km

Population:
5,028,475 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, Other 3%

Language:
Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

Religion:
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Government Type: Transitional Government
Note: Following a referendum on independence in April 1993, a National Assembly was formed, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ. Parliamentary elections had been scheduled to take place in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely. Currently the sole legal party is the PFDJ.

Capital:
Asmara (Asmera)

Population Below Poverty Line:
50% (2004 est.)

Country Reports

Christian woman dies in prison Print E-mail
May 06, 2010

Senait Oqbazgi Habta (28) died on April 23 in the Sawa Military Training Centre in Eritrea after suffering severe abuse and being denied medical treatment for malaria and severe anemia. Senait was arrested in 2008, along with 15 other university students, for attending a Bible study group. She and the other students were imprisoned in large metal shipping containers where they suffered suffocating heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night. They were also deprived of fresh air, sanitation and medical attention. Sawa officials reportedly offered Senait her freedom and medical attention if she would recant her Christian beliefs, but she refused. Camp officials eventually relented and allowed her to be moved to the prison's medical centre. She died shortly after her transfer, however, due to her prolonged illnesses. (Source: Open Doors)

Pray for God's comfort, peace and encouragement for Senait's family and friends. Pray that God will continue to strengthen imprisoned Eritrean Christians by His grace. Pray that their persecutors will be convicted by their testimonies of faithfulness and seek salvation in Christ.

Find out more about the suffering of Eritrean Christians at the Eritrea Country Report.

 
© 2010 - The Voice of the Martyrs Inc. (Canada) | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Website designed & hosted by JimBits Solutions