Introduction
Eritreans in Italy are residents of Italy who were born in Eritrea or are of Eritrean descent. According to the United Nations, there were 13,592 Eritrean migrants in Italy in 2015. The Eritreans are an important immigrant group in Italy, and have a deep historical connection with the country. Eritrea was a colony of Italy from 1890 to 1941.Negash, T. (1997). Italian colonialism in Eritrea, 1882–1941: Policies, praxis and impact. Uppsala: Nordic Africa Institute. The combination of Eritrea's independence movement and its harsh rule after World War II prompted an increasing number of Eritreans to leave their homeland for Italy to find better living conditions and seek asylum. According to data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in 2023, there were approximately 16,500 legal residents of Eritrean origin in Italy.ISTAT. (2023). Popolazione residente per cittadinanza al 1° gennaio 2023. If including undocumented immigrants and naturalized citizens, the total number is estimated to be 25,000.Berriane, M., & De Haas, H. (2012). African migrations research: Innovative methods and methodologies. In African Migrations Research: Innovative Methods and Methodologies (pp. 19–37). Africa World Press. Most Eritreans are widely distributed in major Italian cities such as Rome and Milan.
The Eritrean population in Italy continues to integrate into Italian society at a gradual pace. The Eritreans exist as a dual entity within the Italian social framework. The Eritrean community has shown their value to Italian society through their work in food service and sports as well as cultural activities.Belloni, M. (2016). Refugees as gamblers: Eritreans seeking to migrate through Italy. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 14(1), 104–119. The Eritrean community faces multiple challenges including ethnic discrimination together with identity conflicts and disagreements about their ties to the present Eritrean government. Research shows that about 75% of Eritrean immigrants in Italy hold refugee status, and their living conditions are deeply influenced by Italian immigration policies such as the 2017 "Minniti-Orlando Law" restricting the right to asylum,Cuttitta, P. (2018). Depoliticization through mobility: Migrants’ movements and struggles beyond containment. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 36(6), 1016–1033. and by the geopolitical dynamics between the EU and Africa.Frontex. (2020). Risk Analysis for 2020.
History
Italian colonial period (1890–1941)
Eritrea was officially designated as a colony by Italy in 1890 and Massawa was set as its administrative center. The colonial government promoted infrastructure construction and vigorously developed the economy, such as through the Asmara–Massawa Railway, which required a large number of Eritrean laborers. Some of them were recruited to Italy for low-skilled jobs, including dock workers, servants, laborers, or soldiers in the colonial army. At the same time, the Italian colonial authorities encouraged small-scale Eritrean elites to go to Italy for study and training, in order to cultivate officials or technicians to serve the colonial administrative system.Treiber, M. (2014). The ambivalence of belonging: Processes of emerging ethnic identities among young Eritrean refugees in Milan. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 35(6), 658–674.
During this period, immigration made Italian the common language for the upper classes in Eritrea. In terms of religion, Catholicism spread alongside the local Orthodox Christianity.However, racial segregation policies implemented during the colonial era, such as the Racial Law of 1938, restricted the rights of Eritreans and contributed to the emergence of the subsequent independence movement.
World War II and its aftermath (1941–1960)
The Italian control of Eritrea ended in 1941 when World War II started. The region became subject to British military governance from 1941 until 1952. The Italian forces who retreated from Eritrea brought some Eritrean people to settle in Italy. The Italian colonial officials together with veterans and intellectuals formed the families who migrated to Italy. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) initiated an armed independence movement after Eritrea joined a federation with Ethiopia through a United Nations resolution in 1952. The Italian government maintained economic relations with Eritrea after losing its colonial control. The Italian shipping companies together with other businesses in Italy maintained their workforce of Eritrean employees while keeping their immigration connections active. The connection between Italy and Eritrea remained strong through scholarship programs which allowed Eritrean students to study abroad.
Eritrean independence struggle and refugee migration (1960s–1990s)
Since the 1960s and beyond that time period, in history Eritrea faced increasing turmoil as a result of Ethiopia's takeover of the region in 1962 which sparked a struggle for freedom. The prolonged conflict known as the Eritrean War of Independence (1961–1991) caused an exodus of people fleeing their homeland; a great number of them sought refuge in Europe with a preference, for Italy because of its historical connections and established community networks there.Connell, D. (2005). Against all odds: A chronicle of the Eritrean revolution. Red Sea Press.
Throughout this time frame, in history Italy emerged as a haven for political refugees. Numerous migrants were provided with asylum or residency permissions due to reasons.Tazzioli, M. (2019). The making of migration: The biopolitics of mobility at Europe’s borders. SAGE Publications. The Eritrean migrant groups started establishing lasting communities in urban areas like Rome, Milan and Bologna with the backing of church affiliated bodies and leftist political factions in Italy who felt a kinship to the Eritrean struggle, for independence.Andall, J. (2002). Second-generation attitude? African-Italians in Milan. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 28(3), 389–407.
The Cold War era migration flows helped create lasting transnational connections between Italy and Eritrea. The liberation movement received financial and moral backing through Eritrean cultural associations and family reunification chains and remittance systems.Schapendonk, J., Bolay, M., & Dahinden, J. (2021). The spatio-temporal dynamics of migration trajectories: Mapping mobilities, emplacements and trajectories of aspiring migrants across West and North Africa. Geopolitics, 26(1), 76–102.
Post-2000 migration patterns and contemporary issues (2000–present)
Since Eritrea became independent in 1993; the flow of migrants, to Italy has kept increasing as a result of oppression and economic challenges back in their home country after gaining independence. The migration trend escalated in the 2000s due to the impact of the War from 1998 to 2000 which worsened both political and humanitarian situations, in Eritrea.
The flow of immigrants, to Italy persisted during the 2000 and 2010 decades; a number arrived by sea through the Mediterranean waters as part of a larger trend of migration from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe where Italy served as a common initial destination point, for migrants coming ashore. By the 2010 era came around Italy encountered hurdles regarding asylum requests and the assimilation of migrants; Eritreans constituted one of the groups seeking safety and shelter.ISTAT. (2023). Popolazione residente per cittadinanza al 1° gennaio 2023
At the same time, Italy's asylum policies, particularly the 2017 "Minniti-Orlando Law", which imposed stricter immigration controls, have affected the experiences of Eritrean migrants. These policies, alongside the broader European Union's externalization of border control, made it more difficult for migrants to obtain asylum, though many Eritreans were granted refugee status based on the ongoing human rights violations in their home country.Cuttitta, P. (2018). Repoliticization through mobility: Migrants’ movements and struggles beyond containment. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 36(6), 1016–1033.
Recently in Italy Eritrean migrants have been progressively becoming part of the community by contributing to fields such, as agriculture and cultural events despite encountering obstacles like ethnic bias and challenges with assimilation into both societies. They also face complexities in their ties with the community and the Eritrean government. A significant number of Eritreans opt to stay in Italy as returning to Eritrea is not an option due, to the political environment that poses threats to ex soldiers and refugees alike.In J. Andall & D. Duncan (Eds.), Italian colonialism: Legacy and memory (pp. 97–112). Peter Lang.
Italy has had a connection with Eritrea since the acquisition of Assab in 1869 by Raffaele Rubattino. Eritrea officially became an Italian colony in 1889. Prior to the racial laws of Fascist Italy, mixed race children of Italian fathers and Eritrean mothers were entitled to Italian citizenship, as long as they were legally recognized by their fathers. Since Eritrea's independence, Italy has become a destination for Eritrean migrants and asylum seekers.
Demographics According to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), as of 2023, there were approximately 16,500 legal residents of Eritrean origin in Italy.ISTAT. (2023). Popolazione residente per cittadinanza e sesso al 1° gennaio 2023 Including undocumented immigrants and naturalized citizens, the estimated total number is around 25,000.
As of 2021, most Eritrean nationals residing in Italy live in Rome, Milan, and Bologna. The following table lists Italian provinces by Eritrean population.
Rank Province Population (2021)1Rome17902Milan13733Bologna4624Parma1675Bari1636Turin1527Florence1278Catania1189Bergamo10810Ragusa8711Naples7911Syracuse7913Venice7514Trapani6915Verona6516Lodi6417Brescia5818Vicenza5719Reggio Calabria5520Agrigento5321Genoa5222Pescara5123Lecco5024Varese4825Latina4426Pordenone4327Udine4228Piacenza4029Cosenza3930Cremona3730Reggio Emilia3732Palermo3633Ancona3534Brindisi3434Como3434Rieti3434Terni3438Perugia3339Campobasso3239Lecce3239Pistoia3242Trentino3143Ravenna3044Monza and Brianza2944Sassari2946Crotone2846Fermo2846Forli-Cesena2846Vercelli2850Matera2751Padova2451Prato2451Teramo2454Modena2355Pisa2256Caserta2056Mantua2058Asti1958Messina1958Rimini1958Treviso1962Chieti1862L'Aquila1862Pavia1865Salerno1765Taranto1767Arezzo1667Cuneo1669Benevento1569Cagliari1569Lucca1569Massa-Carrara1573Biella1474Frosinone1375Savona1275South Tyrol1275Viterbo1278Potenza1078Siena1078Sondrio1081Alessandria981Livorno983Avellino883Caltanissetta883Macerata883Trieste887Ferrara788Aosta Valley688Ascoli Piceno688Catanzaro688Imperia692Enna592Foggia592Grosseto592La Spezia592Rovigo597Belluno497Novara497Nuoro497Vibo Valentia4101Pesaro and Urbino2102Barletta-Andria-Trani1102Isernia1102Verbano-Cusio-Ossola1105Gorizia0105Oristano0N/ASouth SardiniaInformation unavailable
Cultural influence and economic contribution
Cultural influence Ethiopian cuisine has become popular in Italy throughout its major cities including Rome, Milan and Turin. The colonial ties between Italy and Ethiopia have led to some degree of cultural exchange between their culinary traditions. The traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony has shaped Italian coffeehouse culture while some Italian chefs now use Ethiopian spices in their vegetarian restaurants. Ethiopian music and art maintain significant value within the Italian immigrant cultural community particularly in world music and hip-hop and contemporary art.