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Increasing concerns have emerged over the potential of armed conflict between East African neighbours, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as hostile language has escalated in the last month.

What Did Ethiopia Stated?

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

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his government's maritime access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrean authorities rejected.

Diplomatic connections between the two countries have regularly been difficult. Following a prolonged fight for sovereignty, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it landlocked.

Subsequently, a border war started in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Recent Comments from Ethiopia's Officials

Abiy and army chief the army commander have openly claimed control of Eritrea's southern port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and implied the desire to seize it militarily.

In early September, the Prime Minister said the country's "error" of losing entry to the sea as a because of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrean Response to the Claims

In the face of ongoing threats from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been limited to concise remarks on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane G..

The minister has dismissed Ethiopian requests for maritime entry labeling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "irredentism" – a strategy of reclaiming lost territory.

The information ministry warned on 16 September that moves to justify "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Movements on the Border

So far, there are no reports of significant troop deployments in the frontier regions between the both nations.

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

The leader of human resources department of the armed forces, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "strong stance" as "tens of thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Historical Background of the Conflict

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 evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia.

Yet in the early 1960s the ruler ended this arrangement and the region became totally absorbed into the Ethiopian state.

A three-decade long armed struggle occurred, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Autonomy was then endorsed by voters in a vote in 1993.

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

Though this concluded in a peace deal in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the both countries continued at odds.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made gestures to Eritrea's leader the president. The two signed a announcement that the hostilities was concluded – a move that won the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize.

The neighboring states were then allies in Ethiopia's previous internal conflict in Tigray.

Yet diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated anew.