m, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Italian, Tigre and Kunama,
Tigrinya, minor tribal languages

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: none
local short form: none
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Data code: ER

Type of government: transitional government
note: on 29 May 1991 ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the
Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served
and still serves as the country's legislative body, announced the
formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in
preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for
the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote
for independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993

Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akele
Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye; note -
information issued by the Eritrean government indicates that the
administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by
former colonial powers, will consist of only six regions when the
new constitution, presently being drafted, goes into effect sometime
in 1996

Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)

National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24
May (1993)

Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; the
promulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1996

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: NA; note - the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993
did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the
final version of the constitution, to be promulgated some time in
1996, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 in which
suffrage was universal for persons 18 years of age or older

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki
(since 22 May 1993) is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
note: election to be held in 1997

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve
as the country's