US lifts sanctions on Eritrea ‘to advance US regional interests’ in Red Sea

The sanctions, introduced during the Biden administration, targeted Eritrea’s governing party and the military.Published On 19 Sep 202619 Sep 2026The United States has lifted sanctions on Eritrea, with the Department of State saying President Donald Trump had chosen not to renew the 2021 measure targeting the country on the strategic Red Sea, “to advance US regional interests”.Eritrea’s Horn of Africa location could be key amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, as the Red Sea has become a key oil shipping route with the Strait of Hormuz blocked.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3After Pretoria peace deal, old enemies in Ethiopia’s Tigray find new groundlist 2 of 3Northern Ethiopia’s shifting alliances explainedlist 3 of 3A visual guide to Ethiopia’s ethnic groups and conflict areasend of listHowever, shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait has come under increasing pressure due to recent Houthi advances in Yemen against forces of the country’s internationally recognised government.The administration of former US President Joe Biden imposed the sanctions in November 2021, which targeted the Eritrean forces and President Isaias Afwerki’s party, the People’s Front for De...