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Increasing concerns are present over the chance of armed conflict between East African countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive rhetoric has escalated in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for entry to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a fierce rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in last year that his government's maritime access was an existential matter, remarks that Eritrea dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the neighboring nations have frequently been strained. After a decades-long struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a long Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, rendering it landlocked.

Subsequently, a territorial conflict started in which numerous people were killed.

Recent Remarks from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated sovereignty of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – about 60km from the border - and hinted at the intention to take it by force.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "error" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Statements

Despite persistent threats from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been confined to concise remarks on online platforms from Communications Head the minister.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea labeling it "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a policy of claiming back former lands.

The information ministry warned on recently that efforts to justify "blatant hostility" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Activities on the Region

So far, there are few indications of significant troop deployments in the border areas between the two countries.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at multiple army bases.

The head of staff section of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an discussion that the military was in a "secure situation" as "many thousands of young people" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Past Roots of the Dispute

For over fifty years from 1890, the territory was governed by colonial powers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the UK forces before becoming a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

Yet in 1962 the ruler terminated this agreement and Eritrea became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year internal conflict followed, ending with the government's loss in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then endorsed by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they fell out over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, leading to war in 1998.

Even though this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries stayed at odds.

This situation improved in 2018, when the Prime Minister made gestures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders signed a statement that the conflict was concluded – a decision that gained the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize.

The two governments were then partners in Ethiopia's recent armed struggle in Tigray.

Yet relations have since broken down anew.