tive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworke (since
22 May 1993)
cabinet: State Council; the collective executive authority
note: election to be held before 20 May 1997

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: PFDJ Central Committee serves as the country's
legislative body until country-wide elections are held (before 20 May
1997)

Judicial branch: Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Justice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworke, PETROS Solomon (the only party
recognized by the government)

Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);
Islamic Militant Group; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAH
Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO),
Mohammed Said NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council
(ELF-RC), Ahmed NASSER

Member of: ACP, ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai
chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 429-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 429-9004

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK
embassy: 34 Zera Yacob St., Asmara
mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Flag: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the
flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower
one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered
on the hoist side of the red triangle

@Eritrea:Economy

Overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea
faces the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor
African country. Most of the population will continue to depend on
subsistence farming. Domestic output is substantially augmented by
worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom
duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire
coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from
the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. For
the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports
for its foreign trade.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1994
est.)

National produc