ABSTRACT
Eritrea’s economy is primarily agricultural and its people are poor. The country has frequently been afflicted by drought, as have other countries on the so-called Horn of Africa. Eritrea is home to people of many ethnic backgrounds and languages, including Afar, Arabic, Tigre, Kunama, and Tigrinya; most are from the Semitic and Cushitic language families. About half the population is Muslim, and the other half is Christian. Most of the Muslim population belongs to the Sunni sect. Eritrea recognizes four official religions: the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, Sunni Islam, Catholicism, and Lutheranism. Members of other religions are not free to practice their faith. In fact, the U.S. State Department has labeled Eritrea as one of the worst violators of religions freedom in the world.
