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Increasing concerns exist over the possibility of warfare involving Horn of Africa neighbors, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for access to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a heated rhetorical conflict.

The Ethiopian leader first openly declared in last year that his country's sea access was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrea dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the neighboring nations have regularly been difficult. Following a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, rendering it cut off from the sea.

Five years later, a territorial conflict broke out in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Latest Comments from Ethiopia's Leadership

Abiy and army chief General Birhanu Jula have openly claimed control of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – about 60km from the border - and implied the wish to take it by force.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "rectified tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be given back "by force".

Eritrean Response to the Threats

Despite ongoing threats from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been restricted to brief comments on online platforms from Information Minister Yemane G..

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for sea access labeling it "dangerous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a approach of retaking lost territory.

Government spokespeople alerted on recently that moves to legitimise "blatant hostility" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Movements on the Region

So far, there are few indications of major military movements in the border areas between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in the country, state television has shown completion events of many recruits at different defense facilities.

The leader of human resources department of the military, General Hachalu, commented lately in an discussion that the army was in a "secure situation" as "tens of thousands of recruits" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our adversaries".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For decades from the late 19th century, Eritrea was ruled by Italian rulers.

After the end of Italian rule, it was then managed by the UK forces before becoming a federated part of Ethiopia.

Yet in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor cancelled this agreement and the region became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A three-decade long internal conflict occurred, concluding with military reversal in 1991. Independence was then approved by Eritreans in a vote in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their mutual frontier, resulting in war in 1998.

Even though this concluded in a truce in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries stayed at loggerheads.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two signed a announcement that the conflict was finished – a decision that gained Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.

The neighboring states were then partners in the country's 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray.

Yet diplomatic connections have since broken down once more.