Military & Security

Military - note

The main duties of the military include external defense, securing borders, and serving as a unifying force for the regime; the conscription-based Army is the leading branch of service.

Since gaining independence in 1991, the Eritrean military has been involved in various conflicts, such as the Hanish Island Crisis with Yemen (1995), the First Congo War (1996-1997), the Second Sudanese Civil War (1996-1998), the Eritrea-Ethiopia War (1998-2000), the Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict (2008), and the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia (2020-2022). During the Tigray conflict, the Eritrean Defense Forces faced allegations of human rights violations. In recent years, it has also provided training assistance to the Somali military (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF): Comprising the Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, and Eritrean Air Force; People's Militia (also known as People's Army or Hizbawi Serawit) (2024).

Military service age and obligation

Eritrea requires military service from all citizens aged 18 to 40; the conscription period lasts 18 months, which typically consists of 4-6 months of training followed by 12 months of military or other national service (with military service being the most prevalent). In practice, service and national duties are frequently extended indefinitely. Citizens up to 59 years of age are subject to recall during times of mobilization (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The inventory of the EDF is mainly composed of weapons and equipment from the Soviet era (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

Data available is highly variable; the estimated number of active Defense Forces ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 (2025).