Eritrea - Security

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Overall Crime and Safety: 

Eritrea’s land borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia are closed. Eritrea’s land border with Sudan is operational in response to the conflict in Sudan according to the UK Foreign Office travel advice (2023).  Cruisers who sailed the Red Sea in 2023 reported not stopping due to ongoing civil unrest.

Cruisers who have visited here have report feeling safe when traveling ashore and surprised by the friendliness of the locals. Crime that is likely to affect foreigners in Eritrea is limited to pickpocketing and petty theft. The risk is higher in Asmara.

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Eritrea, attacks can’t be ruled out.

For travel advisories, see the following websites:

Specific areas of concern:

The FCO advise against all travel within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders, with the exceptions of: the towns of Senafe and Tessenei; the border crossings at Debay Sima – Burre, Serha – Zalambessa and Kesadika (Adi Kuala) – Rama, plus the main paved roads leading to those crossings. All border crossings between Ethiopia and Eritrea are currently closed.

In most places, the border is neither marked nor obvious.

All foreign nationals must apply in advance for a travel permit to leave Asmara.

Maritime Issues:

Military ports and coastal installations are restricted areas and should be well-avoided by cruising boats. Keep well offshore.

Harmil, position 1629.58N 04008.32E, is a military outpost and should be well-avoided.

If you get too close, it’s likely you will be approached by the Eritrean Coastguard and questioned (see incident reported below). See restrictions for more details.

The Eritrean Coast Guard are a very unprofessional looking group, and often a yacht has mistaken their visit for pirates, or armed robbers. Several times a yacht has raised a MAYDAY, only to realize 30 minutes later that the approaching skiff was legitimate Eritrean authorities.

Reported Incidents:

Last updated: August 2023

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Eritrea was last updated 7 months ago.

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  1. March 1, 2022 at 7:05 AM
    mascia-poma says:

    Dear Sirs, we are a Motor yacht 72m and we will like to star a cruiser in Dhalak Islands on the 14th of March. Xan you please let me know how I can apply for the permit? Thank you.

  2. February 25, 2022 at 6:12 AM
    wil97709 says:

    Correction/Errata: Assab is in the south, Massawa in the north…Schooner Seawanhaka

  3. March 22, 2020 at 6:15 PM
    sallyavery says:

    Can anyone advise how to get fuel at Massawa at present please?

  4. March 15, 2016 at 9:45 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    From http://socotra.info/ – February 2016
    Another sailing boat had problems with the Eritrean authorities. The yacht was kept in the port of Massawa for over a month аfter an emergency stop near the Eritrean coast.

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