Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• We advise against all travel within 25 kms of Eritrea’s border with Ethiopia and Djibouti.  We also advise against travel to Eritrea's border with Sudan, including the town of Tesseney; and in the area north and west of Nakfa, Agordat and Barentu. See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• The Ethiopia-Eritrea border remains closed and unmarked.  Several security incidents have taken place in recent months along the border, particularly in the areas of Humera, Tsorona and Zalambessa.  Since the relocation out of Eritrea of the UN Peacekeeping Mission (UNMEE) in March 2008 the risk of cross-border tensions increasing and the security situation deteriorating very rapidly remains.  See Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• All foreign nationals, including resident diplomats, are required to apply ten days in advance for travel permits to leave Asmara – these are not always granted.  This means that diplomatic staff from the British Embassy are unable to offer emergency assistance to British nationals outside Asmara quickly.  Eritrean authorities have not always informed the relevant Embassy when a foreign national is in need of consular assistance - this potential lack of any assistance outside Asmara is something to take into account fully before travelling.  See the Local Travel (Travel Permits) section and General sections of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Dual British/Eritrean nationals should be aware that, under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the British Embassy is unable to offer assistance in Eritrea.  The Eritrean authorities consider all British nationals holding either Eritrean or PFDJ identity documents (including out of date documents) as Eritrean nationals.
  
  
• 4 British nationals required consular assistance in Eritrea in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (1 cases); hospitalisations (0 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (0 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (2 cases).
  
  
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The World Health Organisation website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine flu page on the FCO website.  Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.  Please see the Health section of the travel advice for further information.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism in Eritrea. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• All British nationals travelling to Eritrea should register with the British Embassy in Asmara on arrival.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and ensure that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.