United States lifts Eritrea sanctions amid Red Sea tensions
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 5
United States lifts Eritrea sanctions amid Red Sea tensions
7 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 5
An internal State Department note says Washington will rescind, on or around 4 May, Biden-era 2021 measures targeting Eritrea's ruling party, military and senior officials.
Analysts say the move reflects Eritrea's strategic Red Sea coastline opposite Saudi Arabia, disrupted shipping after the Iran war, and a US warning against any Ethiopian attempt to gain sea access by force.
The sanctions followed Eritrea's role in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 Tigray war, which killed hundreds of thousands, while rights groups still accuse President Isaias Afwerki's government of severe repression and abuses.
Is the U.S. sacrificing justice for atrocities in Tigray for strategic stability in the Red Sea?
Will Eritrea’s new alliance with Egypt spark a wider war with Ethiopia over control of the Red Sea?
Strategic Pivot: U.S. Ends Eritrea Sanctions to Protect Vital Red Sea Shipping Routes
Overview
On May 4, 2026, the United States lifted sanctions on Eritrea, reversing measures imposed in 2021 due to human rights abuses during the Tigray conflict. This decision was driven by urgent regional security concerns, including disruptions to oil supplies from the US-Iran war and threats to Red Sea shipping by the Houthi group. Eritrea's strategic 840-mile Red Sea coastline became vital for securing global trade routes and countering Iranian influence. Egypt played a key role in brokering secret talks that paved the way for this shift, forming a new U.S.-Egypt-Eritrea alliance. While the move strengthens Eritrea and isolates Ethiopia, it sparked strong condemnation from human rights groups for sidelining accountability and risking further repression.