LEAD. Leaders' Visits & Agreements Database
Portrait of Isaias Afwerki
Photo: Quirinale (Francesco Ammendola and Paolo Giandotti) · Attribution

President · Eritrea

Isaias Afwerki

147 recorded engagements, 1993–2025: 146 visits, 1 phone call and 7 signed agreements.

Open in the interactive map Eritrea country profile
147Engagements
146Visits
1Phone calls
0Video conferences
7Signed agreements
34Destination countries
42Multilateral summits
1993–2025Years in LEAD

Biography

President of Eritrea since 1993

Isaias Afwerki (Tigrinya: ኢሳይያስ ኣፍወርቂ, Tigrinya pronunciation: [isajas afwɐrkʼi], ; born 2 February 1946) is an Eritrean politician who has served as the president of Eritrea since its independence in 1993 and the chairman of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) since 1994.

Isaias joined the pro-independence Eritrean Liberation Front in 1967 and quickly rose through the ranks to become its leader in 1970, before defecting to form the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). Having consolidated power within this group, he led pro-independence forces to victory on 24 May 1991, ending the 30-year-old war for independence from Ethiopia, before being elected president of the newly founded country of Eritrea two years later.

Western scholars and historians have long considered Isaias to be a totalitarian leader, with Eritrea's constitution remaining unenforced, electoral institutions effectively being nonexistent, and a policy of mass conscription. The United Nations and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Freedom House have cited him for human rights violations. Since 2024, Reporters Without Borders has ranked Eritrea, under the government of Isaias...

Text from the Wikipedia article “Isaias Afwerki” by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article

Where they travelled

Eritrea   Visited or called (darker = more often)

Most-visited countries

  • Qatar20
  • Egypt18
  • Libya15
  • Sudan14
  • United Arab Emirates9
  • Ethiopia8
  • Saudi Arabia8
  • United States of America6
  • Kenya5
  • China5
  • Yemen3
  • France3

Discussion topics

  • Diplomacy and Foreign Relations147
  • Regional Organizations and Multilateral Affairs45
  • Security and Defense45
  • Trade and Economic Relations39
  • Development and Aid14
  • International Conflicts and Crises8
  • Maritime and Territorial Issues7
  • Peace Negotiations and Mediation5
  • Infrastructure and Connectivity1
  • Migration and Human Mobility1
  • Energy1

Activity by year

1993: 3 engagements1994: 7 engagements1995: 2 engagements1996: 5 engagements1997: 1 engagement1998: 6 engagements1999: 3 engagements2000: 4 engagements2001: 2 engagements2002: 6 engagements2003: 3 engagements2004: 7 engagements2005: 5 engagements2006: 6 engagements2007: 3 engagements2008: 5 engagements2009: 1 engagement2010: 14 engagements2011: 9 engagements2012: 1 engagement2013: 5 engagements2014: 5 engagements2015: 4 engagements2016: 3 engagements2017: 2 engagements2018: 5 engagements2019: 7 engagements2020: 6 engagements2021: 1 engagement2022: 0 engagements2023: 9 engagements2024: 4 engagements2025: 3 engagements19931995200020052010201520202025

Signed agreements

Where the agreement's title was not recorded, its type or category is shown, as coded in the dataset.

DatePartnerWhat was signed
1999-04-30QatarEritrea-Sudan Peace Agreement (Doha)
2000-12-12AlgeriaAlgiers Agreement (Eritrea-Ethiopia Comprehensive Peace Agreement)
2005-02-17ChinaTrade Agreement
2011-07-13QatarFunctional cooperation
2014-05-09SudanSudan-Eritrea energy cooperation agreement
2018-09-15Saudi ArabiaJeddah Agreement on Peace, Friendship and Comprehensive Cooperation (Eritrea-Ethiopia)
2023-02-08KenyaKenya-Eritrea Mutual Visa Exemption

Every recorded engagement

DateTypeDestinationAgreements
1993-09-05 – 1993-09-12Visit SummitEgypt · Cairo
1993-09-29 – 1993-10-01Visit SummitUnited States of America · New York
1993-10-20 – 1993-10-24Visit SummitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
1994-01-24 – 1994-01-28VisitUganda · Kampala
1994-03-08Visit SummitKenya · Nairobi
1994-04-04 – 1994-04-08VisitChina · Beijing
1994-04-09 – 1994-04-10VisitYemen · Sana'a
1994-05-03 – 1994-05-07VisitFrance · Paris
1994-05-30 – 1994-05-31Visit SummitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
1994-09-12 – 1994-09-17VisitKuwait · Kuwait City
1995-01-15 – 1995-02-05VisitUnited States of America · Washington
1995-04-18 – 1995-04-19Visit SummitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
1996-01-25 – 1996-01-26VisitEgypt · Cairo
1996-02-05 – 1996-02-06VisitIsrael · Tel Aviv
1996-03-04 – 1996-03-07VisitKenya · Nairobi
1996-07-10Visit SummitCameroon · Yaoundé
1996-07-14VisitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh
1997-04-09 – 1997-04-12VisitSingapore · Singapore
1998-02-01 – 1998-02-03VisitLibya · Tripoli
1998-05-07 – 1998-05-08VisitUnited States of America · Washington
1998-05-15 – 1998-05-16Visit SummitRwanda · Kigali
1998-06-09 – 1998-06-10Visit SummitBurkina Faso · Ouagadougou
1998-07-27 – 1998-07-28VisitEgypt · Cairo
1998-11-26 – 1998-11-28Visit SummitFrance · Paris
1999-04-15 – 1999-04-16VisitEgypt · Cairo
1999-04-30 – 1999-05-02VisitQatar · DohaAgreement signedEritrea-Sudan Peace Agreement (Doha)
1999-09-08 – 1999-09-09Visit SummitLibya · Sirte
2000-09-06 – 2000-09-08Visit SummitUnited States of America · New York
2000-10-04 – 2000-10-07VisitSudan · Khartoum
2000-12-12VisitAlgeria · AlgiersAgreement signedAlgiers Agreement (Eritrea-Ethiopia Comprehensive Peace Agreement)
2000-12-15 – 2000-12-16Visit SummitLibya · Tripoli
2001-02-15VisitDjibouti · Djibouti City
2001-05-04 – 2001-05-05VisitDjibouti · Djibouti City
2002-01-11 – 2002-01-12Visit SummitSudan · Khartoum
2002-06-03 – 2002-06-04Visit SummitItaly · Rome
2002-09-03 – 2002-09-04Visit SummitSouth Africa · Johannesburg
2002-11-12 – 2002-11-14VisitEgypt · Cairo
2002-12-18 – 2002-12-19VisitLibya · Tripoli
2002-12-19VisitEgypt · Cairo
2003-04-03VisitUnited States of America · Red Sea (USS Mount Whitney)
Show all 147 engagements
DateTypeDestinationAgreements
2003-09-28 – 2003-09-29Visit SummitJapan · Tokyo
2003-11-20Visit SummitLibya · Tripoli
2004-02-25 – 2004-02-26Visit SummitLibya · Sirte
2004-05-14 – 2004-05-16Visit SummitMali · Bamako
2004-05-17 – 2004-05-18VisitItaly · Rome
2004-10-02 – 2004-10-05VisitKuwait · Kuwait City
2004-10-06 – 2004-10-07VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2004-11-04 – 2004-11-06VisitLibya · Tripoli
2004-12-08 – 2004-12-10VisitYemen · Sanaa
2005-02-17 – 2005-02-24VisitChina · BeijingAgreement signedTrade Agreement
2005-02-24 – 2005-02-26VisitPakistan · Islamabad
2005-05-16 – 2005-05-17Visit SummitLibya · Tripoli
2005-12-01 – 2005-12-02VisitSudan · Khartoum
2005-12-21 – 2005-12-23VisitEgypt · Cairo
2006-01-23 – 2006-01-24Visit SummitSudan · Khartoum
2006-06-12VisitSudan · Khartoum
2006-11-04 – 2006-11-05Visit SummitChina · Beijing
2006-11-07 – 2006-11-08VisitQatar · Doha
2006-11-21 – 2006-11-22Visit SummitLibya · Sirte
2006-12-02Visit SummitNigeria · Abuja
2007-01-09 – 2007-01-10VisitEgypt · Cairo
2007-02-20 – 2007-02-22VisitLibya · Tripoli
2007-03-05 – 2007-03-06VisitQatar · Doha
2008-01-26 – 2008-01-28Visit SummitLibya · Sirte
2008-05-19 – 2008-05-20VisitIran (Islamic Republic of) · Tehran
2008-05-20 – 2008-05-21VisitQatar · Doha
2008-05-27 – 2008-05-28Visit SummitJapan · Yokohama
2008-07-15Phone callDjibouti · Djibouti City
2009-10-04 – 2009-10-06VisitQatar · Doha
2010-02-16 – 2010-02-18VisitQatar · Doha
2010-03-27Visit SummitLibya · Sirte
2010-05-03 – 2010-05-04VisitQatar · Doha
2010-05-04VisitEgypt · Cairo
2010-05-06 – 2010-05-07VisitLibya · Tripoli
2010-05-27VisitSudan · Khartoum
2010-05-29VisitQatar · Doha
2010-05-31 – 2010-06-01Visit SummitFrance · Nice
2010-07-22 – 2010-07-23Visit SummitChad · N'Djamena
2010-10-10 – 2010-10-11Visit SummitLibya · Tripoli
2010-11-10 – 2010-11-11VisitQatar · Doha
2010-11-21 – 2010-11-23VisitYemen · Sanaa
2010-11-29 – 2010-11-30Visit SummitLibya · Tripoli
2010-12-02 – 2010-12-04Visit SummitEgypt · Cairo
2011-01-11 – 2011-01-13VisitChad · N'Djamena
2011-01-27 – 2011-01-28VisitQatar · Doha
2011-07-01 – 2011-07-02VisitQatar · Doha
2011-07-08 – 2011-07-09VisitSouth Sudan · Juba
2011-07-13 – 2011-07-14VisitQatar · DohaAgreement signedFunctional cooperation
2011-08-19 – 2011-08-20VisitUganda · Kampala
2011-09-08 – 2011-09-09VisitEquatorial Guinea · Malabo
2011-09-20 – 2011-09-23Visit SummitUnited States of America · New York
2011-10-19 – 2011-10-20VisitSudan · Khartoum
2012-01-22 – 2012-01-25VisitQatar · Doha
2013-04-02 – 2013-04-05VisitQatar · Doha
2013-07-12 – 2013-07-13VisitQatar · Doha
2013-11-25 – 2013-11-27VisitSudan · Khartoum
2013-12-09 – 2013-12-10VisitQatar · Doha
2013-12-12VisitKenya · Nairobi
2014-03-02 – 2014-03-05VisitQatar · Doha
2014-05-09 – 2014-05-11VisitSudan · KhartoumAgreement signedSudan-Eritrea energy cooperation agreement
2014-06-08VisitEgypt · Cairo
2014-09-09 – 2014-09-10VisitEgypt · Cairo
2014-12-06 – 2014-12-08VisitQatar · Doha
2015-04-28 – 2015-04-29VisitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh
2015-06-10 – 2015-06-12VisitSudan · Khartoum
2015-08-19 – 2015-08-20VisitQatar · Doha
2015-12-21 – 2015-12-23VisitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh
2016-03-15 – 2016-03-17VisitQatar · Doha
2016-10-11VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2016-11-28 – 2016-11-29VisitEgypt · Cairo
2017-01-02 – 2017-01-05VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2017-01-30 – 2017-01-31VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2018-07-14 – 2018-07-16VisitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
2018-07-24VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2018-09-15 – 2018-09-18VisitSaudi Arabia · JeddahAgreement signedJeddah Agreement on Peace, Friendship and Comprehensive Cooperation (Eritrea-Ethiopia)
2018-09-19VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2018-12-13 – 2018-12-15VisitSomalia · Mogadishu
2019-02-06VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2019-03-04VisitSouth Sudan · Juba
2019-06-08 – 2019-06-09VisitEgypt · Cairo
2019-09-08 – 2019-09-09VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2019-09-14 – 2019-09-15VisitSudan · Khartoum
2019-12-23VisitUnited Arab Emirates · Abu Dhabi
2019-12-25 – 2019-12-26VisitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
2020-02-17 – 2020-02-19VisitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh
2020-05-03 – 2020-05-05VisitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
2020-06-24 – 2020-06-25VisitSudan · Khartoum
2020-07-03 – 2020-07-04VisitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
2020-07-05 – 2020-07-07VisitEgypt · Cairo
2020-10-12 – 2020-10-15VisitEthiopia · Addis Ababa
2021-05-04 – 2021-05-06VisitSudan · Khartoum
2023-02-08 – 2023-02-10VisitKenya · NairobiAgreement signedKenya-Eritrea Mutual Visa Exemption
2023-02-28 – 2023-03-01VisitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh
2023-05-14 – 2023-05-19VisitChina · Beijing
2023-05-30 – 2023-06-02VisitRussia · Moscow
2023-07-12 – 2023-07-14Visit SummitEgypt · Cairo
2023-07-26 – 2023-07-28Visit SummitRussia · Saint Petersburg
2023-08-22 – 2023-08-26Visit SummitSouth Africa · Johannesburg
2023-09-04 – 2023-09-06Visit SummitKenya · Nairobi
2023-11-09 – 2023-11-15Visit SummitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh
2024-01-28 – 2024-02-08Visit SummitItaly · Rome
2024-02-24 – 2024-02-27VisitEgypt · Cairo
2024-06-02 – 2024-06-08Visit SummitSouth Korea · Seoul
2024-09-02 – 2024-09-09Visit SummitChina · Beijing
2025-10-30 – 2025-11-03VisitEgypt · Cairo
2025-11-29 – 2025-11-30VisitSudan · Port Sudan
2025-12-09 – 2025-12-13VisitSaudi Arabia · Riyadh

Cite this profile

Ozturk, Y., Atabas, H., Guler, E., Duyar, B., & Yucel, R. (2026). Leaders' Visits & Agreements Database [Data set]. Africa Foundation. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22898778 [Isaias Afwerki leader profile. Accessed 26 September 2026. https://lead-database.netlify.app/leaders/isaias-afwerki.html]