U.S. State Department: Eritrea at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution

Key points

• The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" advisory for Eritrea due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions.
• The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea, and U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside Asmara.
• U.S. citizens, including dual U.S.-Eritrean nationals, have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges.
• The Department has determined that a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Eritrean government exists.
• Eritrean law enforcement officials routinely block U.S. government officials' access to detained U.S. citizens, and the U.S. Embassy may not receive notification of an arrest or be allowed access.
• Landmines are present in many remote areas of Eritrea, particularly in Nakfa, AdiKeih, Arezza, the 40 km-wide region between the Setit and Mereb Rivers, and areas north and west of Keren, near Massawa, Ghinda, Agordat, Barentu, Dekemhare, and south of Tessenae.