Eritrea's constitution was ratified by the National Assembly in 1997 but has never been implemented, and as of 2026 remains formally in abeyance: general elections called for under the document have never been held even though an election law was ratified in 2002, and the National Assembly itself has not convened since that year. The unimplemented text calls for a 150 seat unicameral legislature to set policy, approve budgets and elect the president, but in practice President Isaias Afwerki has held both legislative and executive power outside that framework since independence.
Facts
Classification
Legal StatusRatified by the legislature in 1997 but not yet implemented as of 2026 1 Era
Era (category)20th Century (1900-1999) 1 Connections
In Legal System
Source Central Intelligence Agency: Eritrea, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
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Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Wikidata: Constitution of Eritrea
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Constitution of Eritrea
Lead, implementation status sentence
Despite its ratification by the legislature, the constitution has yet to be implemented as of 2026.
History section, drafting and introduction to the National Assembly
After 27 months, the resulting constitution was introduced to the National Assembly in 1997.
View the SourceWikidata: Constitution of Eritrea
Wikidata Q2656027, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Central Intelligence Agency: Eritrea, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIn Legal System: Mixed Systems, Government: Legal systemQuote, In Legal System: Mixed Systems, Government: Legal system
mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
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