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Mounting worries exist regarding the possibility of warfare involving East African neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive rhetoric has escalated in recent weeks.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the sea coast through Eritrea has provoked a fierce verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in last year that his government's maritime access was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrea rejected.

Ties between the both governments have often been tense. Following a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a long sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, making it landlocked.

In 1998, a military clash started in which more than 100,000 people died.

Recent Comments from Ethiopian Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief the army commander have publicly asserted control of Eritrean coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the frontier - and implied the desire to seize it militarily.

Recently, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "blunder" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "rectified soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrean Response to the Threats

Despite continuous threats from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been limited to concise remarks on social media from Communications Head Yemane G..

The minister has dismissed Ethiopian requests for sea access labeling it "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "expansionism" – a strategy of claiming back former lands.

The information ministry warned on 16 September that attempts to legitimise "obvious provocation" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Movements on the Border

There have been no reports of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

Nonetheless, in the country, state television has displayed completion events of numerous trainees at multiple army bases.

The leader of human resources department of the armed forces, the officer, stated recently in an interview that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a warning to our enemies".

Historical Origins of the Tension

For decades from the late 19th century, the territory was governed by Italian colonisers.

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

However in the early 1960s the ruler terminated this agreement and Eritrea became totally absorbed into the Ethiopian state.

A three-decade long civil war ensued, finishing with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Sovereignty was then endorsed by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were good relations between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their mutual frontier, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Even though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations continued at in dispute.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made gestures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders signed a announcement that the hostilities was over – a move that earned the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then allies in the country's 2020-2022 internal conflict in the northern region.

However relations have since broken down anew.