Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24
May (1993)
Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; the
promulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1996
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA; note - the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993 did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the final version of the constitution, to be promulgated some time in 1996, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 in which suffrage was universal for persons 18 years of age or older
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki
(since 22 May 1993) is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
note: election to be held in 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are held in 1997
Judicial branch: Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Justice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon (the only party
recognized by the government)
Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);
Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean
Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO), Mohammed Said
NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC),
Ahmed NASSER