Travel Guide Nakfa

The ultimate symbol of resistance against Ethiopian occupation and independence of Eritrea, Nakfa is a city that everyone knows in the country; indeed, it has given its name to the current Eritrean currency. It was in this small village in the Sahel that in 1978, after its famous retreat, the EPLF established its resistance centre. As the city was on a strategic road that allowed trade with Sudan, it received the worst assaults and was continuously bombed throughout the war. Of course, the city was completely destroyed. A major reconstruction plan has been put in place and the work has been completed: the city is already equipped with local and regional administration buildings, a hospital and even an airport! A place of pilgrimage for some Eritreans, Nakfa is a poignant site to visit. On the Denden mountain, the trenches used by the soldiers are still there; it was here that the soldiers of the EPLF remained in the bombing of the Ethiopian army for up to 18 months, which was sometimes so intense that it was impossible to look around. The soil is still littered with bullets and shells. In the north of the city, it is possible to visit the Souterrain Underground hospital, where combatants were treated and sometimes carried out under amazingly good conditions before being returned to combat. Apart from the vestiges of the Independence War, the Thursday market is to see if you are in town at that time.Beware! As in Afabet, anti-personal mines are present, so it is imperative to take a local guide that will help you avoid them.