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Increasing concerns have emerged regarding the possibility of armed conflict between East African neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive discourse has ratcheted up in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has sparked a heated war of words.

The Ethiopian leader first openly declared in 2023 that his nation's access to the sea was an crucial concern, remarks that Eritrean authorities rejected.

Relations between the both governments have often been tense. Following a long-standing struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive sea border, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, leaving it without sea access.

In 1998, a territorial conflict broke out in which numerous people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have openly claimed sovereignty of Eritrea's maritime facility of the port of Assab – about 60km from the border - and suggested the wish to take it by force.

In early September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "blunder" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrean Response to the Threats

Despite persistent challenges from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been limited to short statements on online platforms from Information Minister Yemane G..

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for maritime entry labeling it "risky" and a "harmful plan" of "expansionism" – a strategy of retaking former lands.

Eritrean authorities warned on recently that attempts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Preparations on the Border

So far, there are little evidence of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, national TV has broadcast graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The director of personnel division of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an interview that the army was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Previous Background of the Dispute

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, Eritrea was governed by Italian rulers.

Following the end of Italian rule, it was then administered by the UK forces before turning into a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor ended this arrangement and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long armed struggle ensued, ending with military reversal in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then endorsed by Eritreans in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Though this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors stayed at in dispute.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki. The two endorsed a announcement that the hostilities was finished – a decision that won Abiy the international recognition.

The two governments were then partners in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war in the northern region.

However relations have subsequently deteriorated anew.