The Ministry of Information maintains full control over all print media in Eritrea, overseeing their editorial direction, production, and dissemination. These outlets function as instruments of state propaganda and are entirely state-owned, operated, and funded.
The main publications currently include:
- Eritrea Profile – published twice a week in English, serving as the government’s official bulletin for international and diplomatic audiences.
- Haddas Ertra – the most widely circulated daily newspaper in Tigrinya, the majority language in Eritrea.
- Eritrea Al Haditha – published in Arabic, aimed at Arabic-speaking communities in Eritrea and neighboring regions.
- Eritrea Haddas – another newspaper in Tigrinya, although its print schedule has become increasingly irregular since 2023.
- Men’esey, Shebab, and Agizo – occasional magazines targeting youth, labor, and cultural themes, respectively. These magazines have not been published since mid-2024, according to reports from local sources and diaspora monitoring groups, and are believed to be effectively defunct as of 2025.
All active publications are available in digital format on the official website of the Ministry of Information, which serves as the central online platform for Eritrean state media.
Media assets
Publishing: Newspapers- Haddas Ertra, Eritrea Al Haditha, Eritrea Haddas, Eritrea Profile; Magazines- Men’esey, Shebab, Agizo
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
All print outlets are wholly owned and governed by the Ministry of Information. There is no independent editorial board, and content is published in line with government directives. Journalists and editors are appointed by the Ministry and operate under tight state supervision.
Source of funding and budget
The print media are fully funded by the Eritrean government. According to local journalists interviewed for this report, the newspapers previously accepted small-scale advertising, primarily from government agencies and state-owned enterprises. However, these revenues contribute less than 5% to the total budget and have reportedly declined further in recent years.
No official budget data is publicly available, as Eritrea does not publish detailed state financial accounts. Independent auditing or transparency regarding media funding is non-existent.
Editorial independence
Eritrea’s print media lack all forms of editorial independence. Content across all outlets is heavily censored and crafted to promote government positions. There is no critical reporting, and dissenting opinions are categorically excluded.
There is no statute, regulation, or oversight body ensuring editorial independence or protecting press freedom in the country. Eritrea remains one of the most censored media environments globally, ranked consistently at the bottom of press freedom indexes, including the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, where it placed 179th out of 180 countries.
June 2025