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Increasing concerns are present about the potential of warfare involving East African neighbors, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile rhetoric has escalated in the last month.

What Did Ethiopia Stated?

Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for passage to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has provoked a intense rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in last year that his government's access to the sea was an vital issue, statements that Eritrea rejected.

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have often been tense. Following a long-standing fight for sovereignty, the Eritrean state, which has a long maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, leaving it cut off from the sea.

In 1998, a border war broke out in which numerous people died.

Recent Comments from Ethiopian Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated ownership of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and hinted at the intention to take it by force.

Recently, Abiy said the country's "error" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed soon".

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

Eritrean Answer to the Claims

Amid continuous warnings from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been confined to concise remarks on X from Communications Head the minister.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry labeling it "hazardous" and a "harmful plan" of "irredentism" – a policy of claiming back previous domains.

Government spokespeople cautioned on mid-September that efforts to legitimise "obvious provocation" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Movements on the Border

So far, there are little evidence of large-scale army activities in the border areas between the two countries.

However, in the country, national TV has broadcast completion events of numerous trainees at multiple army bases.

The director of staff section of the armed forces, General Hachalu, recently said in an interview that the military was in a "reliable position" as "many thousands of recruits" were enlisting, which he said was "a warning to our enemies".

Previous Roots of the Dispute

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by colonial powers.

Following World War II, it was then administered by the British military before turning into a associated territory of Ethiopia.

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

A three-decade long civil war ensued, concluding with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their mutual frontier, resulting in hostilities in 1998.

Even though this concluded in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the both countries remained at loggerheads.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders agreed to a statement that the hostilities was over – a move that earned Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's recent armed struggle in the northern region.

However diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated again.