The SAWA Defence Training Center

The SAWA Defence Training Center is a military academy in the Gash-Barka region of Eritrea. It is where Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) recruits and national service conscripts are sent for basic military training. Since 2003, all local secondary school pupils have been required to attend their 12th grade at an institution proximate to the SAWA center in order ensure that they meet their mandatory national service obligations.

Besides military training, the centre has also hosted the Eri Youth Festival that showcased music stars like Ruth Abraha, the Eriam Sisters and Helen Meles.