It became independent of Ethiopia in 1993 (7)
I believe the answer is:
eritrea
'it became independent of ethiopia in 1993' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for eritrea that I've seen before include "African country, capital Asmara" , "NE African country" , "Country to the north of Ethiopia" , "It achieved independence from Ethiopia in 1993" , "River forming part of German-Polish border" .)