Southern Red Sea region – Assab and the Afar coast of the Red Sea
Stretching along the southern half of Eritrea's Red Sea coast, this region has long been shaped by the sea and by the Afar people, whose pastoral and trading traditions are rooted in this hot, arid landscape. Its best-known town is the port of Assab, which in the late nineteenth century became Italy's first foothold on this coast, marking the beginning of a colonial era that would shape the wider region for decades. Coastal trade, fishing and salt have long been part of everyday life here. Today the region covers around 27,600 square kilometres and is one of the country's most sparsely populated areas. Do you have memories, family stories or traditions from Assab or the coast? Share them with the community and help us tell the region's story.