[JoeProBono]

State of Eritrea,[6] is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea is the Italian form of the Greek name Ἐρυθραία (Erythraía ), meaning "red [land]". With its capital at Asmara, it is bordered by Sudan to the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the east. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The nation has a total area of approximately 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi), and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands. Eritrea is a multi-ethnic country, with nine recognized ethnic groups. It has a population of around six million inhabitants. Most residents speak Afro-Asiatic languages, either of the Semitic or Cushitic branches. Among these communities, the Tigrinya make up about 55% of the population, with the Tigre constituting around 30% of inhabitants. In addition, there are a number of Nilo-Saharan-speaking Nilotic ethnic minorities. Most people in the territory adhere to Christianity or Islam.[2]

[Verginius Rufus]

I think the name Eritrea is rather from the Greek name for the Red Sea, Erythraia thalassa, since it borders the Red Sea.

Both Ethiopia and Eritrea have large Christian populations going back to ancient times. Ethiopia annexed Eritrea in 1962 which led to a 31-year struggle for independence on the part of the Eritreans, but I think it was primarily nationalistic rather than based on religious differences. For part of that time Ethiopia had a Communist dictatorship.