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Increasing concerns exist over the potential of warfare involving East African countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive language has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Said?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for passage to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has provoked a fierce rhetorical conflict.

PM Abiy Ahmed first openly declared in 2023 that his country's sea access was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Ties between the both governments have often been tense. After a prolonged battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it cut off from the sea.

Subsequently, a territorial conflict started in which over a hundred thousand people were killed.

Latest Statements from Ethiopia's Government

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief the army commander have openly claimed control of Eritrea's coastal city of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and suggested the intention to seize it militarily.

In early September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrean independence would be "corrected tomorrow".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be given back "by force".

Eritrea's Response to the Threats

Amid ongoing warnings from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been confined to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for maritime entry calling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a policy of retaking lost territory.

Government spokespeople alerted on mid-September that attempts to justify "blatant hostility" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Movements on the Region

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

However, in Ethiopia, state television has displayed graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at various military training camps.

The director of staff section of the military, the officer, stated recently in an interview that the army was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Historical Roots of the Tension

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by Italian rulers.

After World War II, it was then managed by the UK forces before becoming a integrated region of Ethiopia.

However in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I cancelled this system and the region became totally absorbed into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long civil war occurred, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then confirmed by the population in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they fell out over the precise positioning of their mutual frontier, causing war in 1998.

Even though this concluded in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations remained at odds.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made gestures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders agreed to a announcement that the conflict was concluded – a move that won Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's previous armed struggle in the northern region.

Yet diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated again.