Whether a man born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, more than 18 years ago; whose parents were born in Asmara and are ethnic Eritreans, one of whom being born before 1933; who has never been to Eritrea and does not speak Tigrinya, who did not vote at the referendum on the independence of Eritrea; who has not served in either the Eritrean or the Ethiopian army and has never paid taxes to the Eritrean government, can become an Eritrean citizen [ERT36985.E]

An official at the Embassy of Eritrea in Ottawa stated in a 22 June 2001 telephone interview that a man born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, more than 18 years ago, whose parents were born in Asmara and are ethnic Eritreans, one of whom being born before 1933, who has not served in either the Eritrean or Ethiopian army and has never paid taxes to the Eritrean government is an Eritrean citizen by birth whether or not he participated in the referendum on the independence of Eritrea.

For further information on Eritrean citizenship, please consult the Eritrean Nationality Proclamation No. 21 of 1992 attached to ERT21415.E of 20 September 1995, which is available in Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference


Embassy of Eritrea, Ottawa. 22 June 2001. Telephone interview with official.