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Increasing concerns exist over the potential of warfare between East African neighbours, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as hostile language has intensified in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a intense war of words.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in 2023 that his nation's maritime access was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrean authorities rejected.

Diplomatic connections between the neighboring nations have regularly been difficult. Following a decades-long fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) sea border, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, leaving it landlocked.

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

Recent Statements from Ethiopia's Government

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated control of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – about 60km from the frontier - and implied the wish to seize it militarily.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "error" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "corrected tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be given back "using武力".

Eritrea's Response to the Claims

Despite persistent challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been limited to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "risky" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a approach of retaking previous domains.

The information ministry warned on recently that moves to justify "blatant hostility" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Ground

There have been few indications of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed completion events of thousands of cadets at various military training camps.

The head of human resources department of the defense force, General Hachalu, commented lately in an interview that the military was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Historical Background of the Dispute

For more than half a century from 1890, the territory was governed by colonial powers.

Following World War II, it was then controlled by the UK forces before becoming a federated part of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 the ruler ended this arrangement and the region became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year armed struggle followed, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by the population in a referendum in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their mutual frontier, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Although this finished in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries stayed at odds.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two signed a announcement that the conflict was finished – a move that gained Abiy the international recognition.

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

Yet ties have later worsened again.