Eritrea
/ˌɛrɪˈtreɪə
/
An independent state in NE Africa, on the Red Sea; population 5,647,200 (est. 2009); language, Tigre and Cushitic languages; capital, Asmara.
Eritrea was an Italian colony from 1890 to 1952, when it became part of Ethiopia. After a long guerrilla war it became internally self-governing in 1991 and fully independent in 1993.
Origin
From Italian, from Latin Mare Erythraeum 'the Red Sea'.