Eritrea explained to kids

Eritrea is a small country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The Red Sea lies to the northeast of Eritrea. The capital and largest city is Asmara. Eritrea is one of the poorest countries in the world. The government is a dictatorship, and there is no freedom of speech or press. Eritrea is a very dangerous place to live. There is a lot of violence, and people are often arrested without a trial. Eritrea is a beautiful country, though. It has a lot of mountains and deserts. The climate is hot and dry. Eritrea is home to many different kinds of people. The largest groups are the Tigrinya, who make up about half of the population, and the Tigre, who make up about a quarter. Other groups include the Saho, Afar, Kunama, and Nara. Eritrea is an ancient country. It was once part of the kingdom of Aksum. In the Middle Ages, it was ruled by the Italians and the Turks. Eritrea became a colony of Italy in 1885. It was part of Ethiopia from 1936 until 1941, when it became a colony of Britain. Eritrea gained its independence in 1993.