Assab

Province

Assab ( Ge'ez ዓሳብ ʿ Asab ) is an approximately 21,300 inhabitants, small port city in southeastern Eritrea and capital of the administrative region Debubawi red sea region. The city is located about 480 kilometers from the capital Asmara away on the Red Sea

The port of Assab was a strategically important point for trade with Ethiopia and one of the reasons for the Eritrea - Ethiopia war. In the Bay of Assab are 30 islands. In the surrounding area there is an extensive salt flats and the Assab volcanic field. Also, here is an important oil refinery and an international airport. The city consists of the parts Assab Saghir on the coast, Assab Kebir in the city center (including the port area ) and Campo Sudan.

The port and the refinery of Assab

For the relationship with Ethiopia is especially the port and refinery of importance. After the independence of Eritrea in 1993, Ethiopia received as compensation for the loss of its sea access the right to import free of duty their goods on the Eritrean town of Assab. The local port was declared a free port and Ethiopia received the right to use the refinery in exchange for 30 % of the Ethiopian oil. End of 1996, Eritrea increased the user fees for the refinery in Assab by 10%, then turned Ethiopia degradation own oil and referring instead finished petrochemical products on the world market. This had to purchase and close its unprofitable refinery and Eritrea from now on its petrochemical products on the open market. Once on 12 May 1998 Eritrean units the Yirga Triangle occupied in the border region, Ethiopia imposed a total economic boycott against Eritrea, Eritrea whereupon also those imprisoned next to the port of Massawa Assab to Ethiopia, Ethiopia over the two-thirds of its foreign trade transacted.

Colonialism in the 19th century

The Bay of Assab was the first Italian colonial territory in East Africa.

The shipowner Raffaele Rubattino from Genoa decided in agreement with the Italian government to set up a equipped with a warehouse for coal pier on the Red Sea, to the benefit of its ships that sailed in the Indian Ocean. In order not to arouse attention to the European public, an expert has been commissioned on site to purchase the Bay of Assab on behalf of the company Rubattino.

On November 5, 1869 by two local leaders, and Ibrahim Hasan, a triangular piece of land acquired, which had 6 km base length and 6 km in length perpendicular to the base. The closed on March 11, 1870 contract was celebrated on board the steamer Africa by the Rubattino Society. At the boundaries of the acquired piece of land signs were taken with the reference property of Rubattino: acquired on 11 March 1870. But before month end Egyptian soldiers taken back possession of the bay and cleared piles and signs off.

In March 1880 Giuseppe Sapeto acquired by another contract the bay again, as well as other pieces of land and island nearby.

On March 10, 1882 The Italian government took over from the shipping company the territory of Assab. 1880 Civil District was established under the supervision of the Italian Foreign Ministry. In 1883, established a small association of four carabinieri on command by the Marshal Enrico Cavedani a supervisory station for trade -in. The sergeant turned later and locals, from which the later gendarmerie units ( Zaptié ) incurred by the colony of Eritrea.

The post office of Assab

When the Rubattino & Co. exercised ownership over Assab, there was a post office, which was under the supervision of an accountant of the Company. With the founding of the colony of Eritrea on 1 January 1890, Assab the main post office district of the colony and used the stamps that were issued for the colony itself.

Air table