Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the Red Sea. It gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year armed struggle. The capital is Asmara, and the country's diverse geography includes central highlands, western lowlands, and an eastern coastal plain with the Dahlak Archipelago. Eritrea's economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, and the nation has faced significant challenges due to war, drought, and mismanagement since its independence, resulting in it being one of the world's poorest countries.