Eritrea

Located in northeast Africa, Eritrea was once part of Ethiopia. With a burning thirst for independence, a 30-year struggle for freedom culminated in the desired goal with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces. A 1993 referendum overwhelmingly approved in favour of independence.

The border dispute which resulted in war with Ethiopia late in the 1990's was resolved by the signing of a peace treaty in December 2000 under UN auspices.

A UN peacekeeping operation monitors a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone on the border with Ethiopia.

One of the youngest independent countries, Eritrea shares its border with Ethiopia in the south, Sudan in the west, and Djibouti in the southeast. The east and northeast of this African country has a wide coastline with the Red Sea.
The topography of Eritrea is varied with the world's longest mountain range, the Great Rift Valley, virtually bisecting the country. At 3018 m above sea level, Soira, located in the heart of the country, is the highest point of the country.