Barentu (Tigrinya: ባረንቱ) is a town in north-western Eritrea, lying south of Agordat, and is the capital of Gash-Barka Region.

The Nara people leader Shekaray Agaba was the first to build the town Umba Arenku which it means the white water.

As part of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War of 1998-2000, the then flourishing town suffered major damage but has since undergone reconstruction.

Its climate is favorable for different types of crops, fruits, vegetables and a large variety of animals flourish in the region.

The town is not only growing fast but it is also developing with the scale, and it have been able to provide basic services, such transport, education, health facilities and all that coupled with a fine weather.

Live stocks such as cows, camels, sheep and goats fill the market with active sense of exchange especially when it is near the holidays.