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Increasing concerns are present about the possibility of warfare among Horn of Africa countries, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as aggressive discourse has intensified in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has sparked a heated rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister previously announced in 2023 that his country's maritime access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea rejected.

Ties between the two countries have regularly been difficult. After a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a extensive maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, making it without sea access.

Subsequently, a border war started in which numerous people were killed.

Latest Comments from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated ownership of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and suggested the desire to seize it militarily.

Recently, the Prime Minister said the country's "error" of losing access to the sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "rectified in the future".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "through military action".

Eritrea's Response to the Threats

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's reaction has been restricted to brief comments on X from Communications Head Yemane G..

He has rejected Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea labeling it "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a policy of claiming back former lands.

The information ministry warned on mid-September that efforts to validate "blatant hostility" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its neighbors and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Movements on the Ground

So far, there are little evidence of significant troop deployments in the border areas between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in the country, national TV has shown completion events of thousands of cadets at various military training camps.

The leader of staff section of the defense force, General Hachalu, stated recently in an discussion that the military was in a "strong stance" as "tens of thousands of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our opponents".

Previous Roots of the Conflict

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, 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.

However in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor ended this system and Eritrea became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year armed struggle occurred, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Sovereignty was then endorsed by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they clashed over the exact location of their common border, causing hostilities in 1998.

Though this finished 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 overtures to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The two endorsed a declaration that the war was finished – a action that won the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then cooperators in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war in the northern region.

But diplomatic connections have later worsened anew.