Relationship dossier
Canada
Eritrea
Relationship assessment
Diplomatic friction over Eritrea’s diaspora tax and a history of Canadian sanctions
Canada toward Eritrea
-20Canada implemented UN sanctions on Eritrea and, in 2013, expelled an Eritrean diplomat over the collection of a 2% tax from diaspora members in Canada.
Eritrea toward Canada
-20Eritrea reportedly expelled a Canadian diplomat in 2013 amid the dispute over its collection of a 2% tax from diaspora members in Canada.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship has been shaped by a concrete dispute over Eritrea’s diaspora tax, which led to reciprocal diplomatic expulsions in 2013, and by Canada’s implementation of UN sanctions that were lifted in 2018. The breadth of bilateral cooperation beyond these issues is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Canada and Eritrea have experienced significant friction over Eritrea’s collection of a 2% tax from diaspora members in Canada. In 2013, Canada expelled an Eritrean diplomat over the issue, and Eritrea reportedly expelled a Canadian diplomat in response. Canada also implemented UN sanctions on Eritrea before they were lifted in 2018. The scope of substantive cooperation beyond these issues is unclear.
Areas of tension
- Eritrea’s collection of a 2% tax from diaspora members in Canada and the related diplomatic expulsions
Key developments
Canada expelled an Eritrean diplomat over Eritrea’s collection of a 2% tax from diaspora members in Canada; Eritrea reportedly expelled a Canadian diplomat in response.
UN sanctions on Eritrea were lifted, ending the basis for Canada’s implementation of those measures.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of substantive bilateral cooperation outside the tax and sanctions issues is unclear.
- The implementation and practical effects of Canada’s Eritrea sanctions before their lifting are unclear.