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Increasing concerns have emerged about the chance of warfare between Horn of Africa countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as hostile language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Said?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for access to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has triggered a heated rhetorical conflict.

PM Abiy Ahmed previously announced in the previous year that his country's access to the sea was an vital issue, statements that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Ties between the both governments have regularly been difficult. Following a long-standing battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it landlocked.

In 1998, a territorial conflict broke out in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Current Comments from Ethiopian Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have openly claimed sovereignty of Eritrean southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and implied the desire to seize it militarily.

Recently, Abiy said the country's "mistake" of losing access to the sea as a due to Eritrean independence would be "addressed in the future".

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

Eritrea's Reaction to the Statements

In the face of persistent warnings from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been confined to brief comments on X from Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea labeling it "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "expansionism" – a strategy of claiming back lost territory.

The information ministry alerted on recently that efforts to justify "flagrant aggression" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Region

There have been no reports of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the both nations.

However, in Ethiopia, government media has shown training completions of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The head of human resources department of the defense force, the officer, recently said in an conversation that the military was in a "secure situation" as "tens of thousands of young people" were enlisting, which he said was "a warning to our opponents".

Previous Origins of the Conflict

For over fifty years from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by Italian colonisers.

After the end of Italian rule, it was then controlled by the UK forces before evolving into a associated territory of Ethiopia.

But in the early 1960s the Ethiopian emperor cancelled this system and Eritrea became totally absorbed into Ethiopia.

A extended armed struggle followed, ending with military reversal in the early 1990s. Independence was then confirmed by the population in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their common border, leading to conflict in 1998.

Though this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations remained at odds.

This changed in 2018, when the Prime Minister made gestures to Eritrea's leader the president. The both leaders agreed to a declaration that the conflict was concluded – a move that earned Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's previous civil war in the northern region.

But diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated anew.