ERITREA — The United States lifted sanctions on Eritrea on September 19, 2026, following a decision by President Donald Trump not to renew a 2021 sanctions measure. The US Department of State stated the decision was made "to advance US regional interests."

The US Treasury published a notice stating the national emergency declaration underpinning the sanctions had expired. This action removed restrictions that had targeted Eritrea’s ruling party, the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice, and its military forces.

A State Department spokesperson addressed the context of the decision relative to regional stability. The spokesperson noted that while implementation of the peace deal had been uneven, the US felt it was time to adapt foreign policy to current realities. The goal is to collaboratively engage with both countries to advance US interests.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel responded to the policy shift in an interview. "The unilateral sanctions imposed by the Biden administration five years ago were not warranted by any metrics.. In this respect, we welcome the gesture and remedial measures by the Trump administration," he said.

Why It Matters

The lifting of these sanctions marks a shift in US policy toward the Horn of Africa, reversing measures established during the previous administration. The original sanctions were imposed by the Biden administration in November 2021, citing concerns related to the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region where Eritrean troops backed the Ethiopian federal army. The war in Tigray ended in late 2022 with the signing of a peace deal between Addis Ababa and Tigray rebels, creating the conditions for this policy reassessment.

This development reflects the Trump administration's approach to adapting foreign policy tools to post-conflict realities rather than maintaining static punitive measures. By removing the national emergency declaration, the US has cleared the way for renewed diplomatic and economic engagement with Eritrea. The decision represents a strategic change aimed at stabilizing the region through collaboration rather than isolation, despite acknowledged unevenness in the implementation of the underlying peace agreement.

Timeline

The Biden administration imposed the sanctions in November 2021. The war in Tigray ended in late 2022 with the signing of a peace deal between Addis Ababa and Tigray rebels. On September 19, 2026, President Donald Trump chose not to renew the 2021 sanctions measure targeting Eritrea.

Also on September 19, 2026, the United States lifted sanctions on Eritrea. Sanctions against Eritrean individual Hagos Ghebrehiwet were removed on that same date. A State Department spokesperson stated that while implementation of the peace deal had been uneven, the US felt it was time to adapt foreign policy to current realities and collaboratively engage with both countries to advance US interests. Yemane Gebremeskel said, "The unilateral sanctions imposed by the Biden administration five years ago were not warranted by any metrics.. In this respect, we welcome the gesture and remedial measures by the Trump administration."

What's New

Later reporting confirmed specific details regarding the entities affected by the policy change. Sanctions against Eritrean individual Hagos Ghebrehiwet were removed. Donald Trump is President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025).

Hagos Ghebrehiwet is a key financial official in Eritrea. The Red Sea Trading Corporation is linked to Eritrea's ruling party. Sanctions against the Red Sea Trading Corporation were removed.