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Growing concerns have emerged about the possibility of armed conflict between Horn of Africa countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as confrontational rhetoric has intensified in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for access to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has sparked a fierce war of words.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in 2023 that his government's maritime access was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the two countries have often been tense. Following a decades-long struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it landlocked.

Five years later, a military clash erupted in which more than 100,000 people died.

Current Remarks from Ethiopian Government

Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrean maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and suggested the wish to capture it through military means.

On 1 September, Abiy said the country's "blunder" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "rectified soon".

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be returned "by force".

Eritrea's Response to the Statements

In the face of persistent challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been confined to short statements on X from Communications Head Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea labeling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a policy of reclaiming lost territory.

The information ministry warned on recently that efforts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Preparations on the Border

There have been little evidence of large-scale army activities in the border areas between the both nations.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, state television has broadcast training completions of numerous trainees at different defense facilities.

The leader of human resources department of the defense force, the officer, commented lately in an discussion that the military was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of recruits" were joining it, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Past Background of the Dispute

For over fifty years from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by colonial powers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the British administration before turning into a integrated region of Ethiopia.

Yet in the early 1960s the ruler terminated this system and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A extended internal conflict followed, ending with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then endorsed by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their common border, leading to war in 1998.

Although this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries remained at loggerheads.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a statement that the conflict was concluded – a action that earned the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The both administrations were then allies in the country's previous civil war in Tigray.

However diplomatic connections have later worsened once more.