Digraph: ER

Type: transitional government

note: on 29 May 1991 ISSAIAS Afeworke, secretary general of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE), in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence that was announced on 27 April 1993

Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)

Administrative divisions: NA

Independence: 27 April 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)

Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993

Legal system: NA

National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)

Political parties and leaders: Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) (Christian Muslim), ISSAIAS Aferworke, PETROS Soloman; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) (Muslim), ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO), leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP); numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu's resignation, including several Islamic militant groups

Suffrage: NA

Elections: multinational election before 20 May 1997

Executive branch: president, Eritrean National Council

Legislative branch: National Assembly

Judicial branch: Judiciary

Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government: President ISSAIAS Aferworke

Member of: OAU, UN, UNCTAD

Flag: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle