Provinces of Eritrea
Encyclopedia
The Provinces of Eritrea existed between Eritrea
's incorporation as a Colony of Italy
until the conversion of the provinces into administrative regions.
When ruled as the Colony of Eritrea
, the Italian Colonial Administration had divided the colony into eight provinces (administrative regions). These administrative regions relied heavily upon the historical political boundaries in the region, including, but not exclusively, that of local nobility. These Provinces of Eritrea were also used by the Federated Eritrean Government from 1952-1962 and as districts in Eritrea when it was annexed by Ethiopia
from 1962-1991. These eight provinces are enumerated below:
After Independence, the Provisional Government of Eritrea converted the original eight Provinces of Eritrea (from the Italian Colonial period) to ten provinces by splitting the Barka province in two, the north known as Barka
Province and the south as Gash-Setit
Province, while at the same time separating Asmara
from the rest of Hamasien
. On 1996-04-15, the Government of Eritrea converted the then ten Provinces of Eritrea into six administrative regions.
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
's incorporation as a Colony of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
until the conversion of the provinces into administrative regions.
When ruled as the Colony of Eritrea
Italian Eritrea
Italian Eritrea was the first colony of the Kingdom of Italy. It was created in 1890 and lasted officially until 1947.-Acquisition of Assab and creation of the colony:...
, the Italian Colonial Administration had divided the colony into eight provinces (administrative regions). These administrative regions relied heavily upon the historical political boundaries in the region, including, but not exclusively, that of local nobility. These Provinces of Eritrea were also used by the Federated Eritrean Government from 1952-1962 and as districts in Eritrea when it was annexed by Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
from 1962-1991. These eight provinces are enumerated below:
- Akele Guzay
- BarkaBarka (Eritrea)Barka was a province of Eritrea until 1996, when it was divided between present day Gash-Barka and Anseba regions. Its capital was Agordat....
- DenkaliaDenkaliaDenkalia was a province of Eritrea until 1996, when it was divided between present day Northern Red Sea and Southern Red Sea regions. Its capital was Assab....
- HamasienHamasienHamasien was the name of an histoical province including and surrounding Asmara, now part of modern Eritrea. The region has been divided and distributed amongst the modern Maekel, Debub, Northern Red Sea, Gash-Barka and Anseba regions....
- SahelSahel (Eritrea)Sahel was a former province of Eritrea until 1996, when it was absorbed into the present day Northern Red Sea region. Its capital was Nafka....
- SemharSemharSemhar is the name of an area near the Red Sea Province of Eritrea, which has now become almost incorporated into the Northern Red Sea Region of Eritrea and Massawa was the capital city of the province. The population is mainly Tigre and Saho. The Tigre & Arabic languages are mainly spoken...
- SenhitSenhitSenhit was a former province of Eritrea until 1996, when it was absorbed into the present day Anseba region. Its capital was Keren....
- Seraye
After Independence, the Provisional Government of Eritrea converted the original eight Provinces of Eritrea (from the Italian Colonial period) to ten provinces by splitting the Barka province in two, the north known as Barka
Barka (Eritrea)
Barka was a province of Eritrea until 1996, when it was divided between present day Gash-Barka and Anseba regions. Its capital was Agordat....
Province and the south as Gash-Setit
Gash-Setit
Gash-Setit is a designated national wildlife reserve and historical area of western Eritrea. It is located in much of Omhajer District and Haykota District south west of Haykota between the market town of Tesseney in the Gash-Barka region. The name is derived from the two rivers, the Gash and the...
Province, while at the same time separating Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
from the rest of Hamasien
Hamasien
Hamasien was the name of an histoical province including and surrounding Asmara, now part of modern Eritrea. The region has been divided and distributed amongst the modern Maekel, Debub, Northern Red Sea, Gash-Barka and Anseba regions....
. On 1996-04-15, the Government of Eritrea converted the then ten Provinces of Eritrea into six administrative regions.