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Growing worries exist regarding the potential of armed conflict between East African neighbors, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as confrontational rhetoric has ratcheted up in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has sparked a fierce war of words.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his country's access to the sea was an existential matter, statements that Eritrean authorities rejected.

Relations between the both governments have often been tense. Following a prolonged battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a long sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it landlocked.

Subsequently, a military clash started in which over a hundred thousand people lost their lives.

Latest Statements from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have openly claimed control of Eritrean southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and implied the desire to take it by force.

In early September, Abiy said Ethiopia's "blunder" of losing access to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrean independence would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be returned "using武力".

Eritrean Answer to the Threats

In the face of continuous warnings from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been restricted to concise remarks on online platforms from Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea calling it "hazardous" and a "harmful plan" of "expansionism" – a strategy of retaking former lands.

The information ministry warned on mid-September that attempts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Activities on the Ground

So far, there are few indications of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, state television has shown training completions of thousands of cadets at various military training camps.

The head of human resources department of the armed forces, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "secure situation" as "tens of thousands of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Past Background of the Dispute

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

Following Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the UK forces before turning into a integrated region of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor ended this system and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long armed struggle occurred, ending with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Autonomy was then confirmed by voters in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their common border, resulting in war in 1998.

Even though this finished in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the neighbors stayed at loggerheads.

This situation improved in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrea's leader the president. The two signed a statement that the war was finished – a action that earned the Prime Minister the prestigious award.

The neighboring states were then allies in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 armed struggle in Tigray.

Yet diplomatic connections have since broken down anew.