The Dahlak Archipelago Has More Than 200 Islands

They include the Tigrinya, Tigre, Afar and Saho, and Eritrea has several languages in daily use.

The long coastline runs along the strategic route to the Suez Canal.

Isaias Afwerki has led the country since 1993.

A referendum in April 1993 followed a war of independence that lasted about 30 years.