US Embassy in Eritrea is resuming visa service. The American embassy in Asmara suspended its visa service around 7 years ago.
The embassy today announced that it will start issuing visas from May 14. But visa ban on official Eritrean citizens under section 243(m) of the Immigration and Citizenship Act will continue. The visa ban applies to Eritrea government officials above the position of Director General, and party officials who are in the leadership of the ruling party People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). In addition, the ban will remain imposed on these government and party officials and their children under 21.
Now Eritrean citizens can apply for non immigrant visas directly at the US Embassy in Eritrea which is located in Asmara, the Eritrean capital. Earlier visa applicants had to go to Addis Ababa Ethiopia or Nairobi Kenya for visa interviews. But now the US Embassy in Eritrea will complete the entire procedure.
US-Eritrea relations remained largely tense since Eritrean Independence in 1991. US accuses Eritrea of human rights abuses. US and its western allies imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on Eritrean government. Latest restrictions were announced in In 2021 when the United States imposed targeted sanctions against certain Eritrean entities and individuals, including the Eritrean Defense Forces, citing Eritrean continued involvement in the Tigray war in Ethiopia.
It seems that the US is showing a slight change in its foreign policy towards Eritrea. Resumption of visa service in Asmara could be a step leading to warming of bilateral relations.
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