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Increasing apprehensions exist over the chance of armed conflict between East African neighbours, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile rhetoric has escalated in recent weeks.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Said?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for access to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has provoked a intense war of words.

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in 2023 that his country's maritime access was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the neighboring nations have often been tense. Following a decades-long fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a extensive maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it cut off from the sea.

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

Recent Statements from Ethiopia's Government

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief the army commander have directly stated control of Eritrea's coastal city of Assab – about 60km from the boundary - and suggested the intention to seize it militarily.

Recently, Abiy said the country's "error" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be returned "using武力".

Eritrea's Response to the Statements

Amid ongoing warnings from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been restricted to concise remarks on social media from Information Minister Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for sea access labeling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a approach of retaking previous domains.

Eritrean authorities alerted on 16 September that attempts to justify "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Activities on the Border

So far, there are no reports of major military movements in the border areas between the neighboring states.

However, in the country, state television has displayed training completions of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The leader of personnel division of the defense force, General Hachalu, recently said in an discussion that the military was in a "strong stance" as "tens of thousands of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a message to our adversaries".

Historical Background of the Dispute

For more than half a century from the late 19th century, the territory was governed by Italian colonisers.

Following the end of Italian rule, it was then administered by the British military before evolving into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

However in the early 1960s Emperor Haile Selassie I ended this agreement and the region became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A extended armed struggle followed, ending with military reversal in the early 1990s. Autonomy was then approved by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they fell out over the specific demarcation of their common border, causing war in 1998.

Even though this finished in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries stayed at loggerheads.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The both leaders signed a announcement that the war was concluded – a move that earned Abiy the prestigious award.

The two governments were then partners in the country's 2020-2022 internal conflict in Tigray.

But ties have later worsened again.