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Increasing concerns exist over the possibility of armed conflict involving Horn of Africa neighbours, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as aggressive rhetoric has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Declared?

Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has provoked a heated verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his government's sea access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Relations between the neighboring nations have often been tense. Following a long-standing battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) sea border, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it landlocked.

Subsequently, a border war broke out in which numerous people lost their lives.

Latest Statements from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated ownership of Eritrean maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and implied the intention to take it by force.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "mistake" of being denied passage to the sea as a because of Eritrea's separation would be "rectified in the future".

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

Eritrean Answer to the Statements

Amid ongoing threats from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been restricted to concise remarks on social media from Information Minister the minister.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea calling it "risky" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a policy of retaking former lands.

Government spokespeople warned on 16 September that efforts to validate "obvious provocation" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Preparations on the Ground

There have been few indications of large-scale army activities in the frontier regions between the two countries.

However, in Ethiopia, government media has broadcast training completions of many recruits at various military training camps.

The head of personnel division of the military, General Hachalu, recently said in an conversation that the defense forces was in a "strong stance" as "many thousands of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Historical Origins of the Dispute

For decades from the late 19th century, Eritrea was governed by Italian rulers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the British administration before turning into a federated part of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 the ruler terminated this arrangement and Eritrea became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A extended internal conflict occurred, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in the early 1990s. Independence was then endorsed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were good relations between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their mutual frontier, causing conflict in 1998.

Even though this ended in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries remained at odds.

This changed in 2018, when the Prime Minister made overtures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a announcement that the hostilities was finished – a action that won Abiy the international recognition.

The two governments were then partners in the country's previous armed struggle in Tigray.

However diplomatic connections have since broken down once more.