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Growing concerns exist over the possibility of military engagement among East African countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Stated?

Landlocked Ethiopia's calls for entry to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has provoked a intense rhetorical conflict.

PM Abiy Ahmed previously announced in last year that his nation's access to the sea was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrea rejected.

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have often been tense. After a prolonged fight for sovereignty, the Eritrean state, which has a long Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, making it without sea access.

Subsequently, a border war broke out in which more than 100,000 people died.

Latest Statements from Ethiopia's Government

Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted control of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – about 60km from the boundary - and suggested the wish to take it by force.

Recently, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Despite continuous challenges from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been limited to concise remarks on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea labeling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a strategy of retaking previous domains.

Government spokespeople cautioned on mid-September that attempts to justify "obvious provocation" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Movements on the Region

There have been no reports of large-scale army activities in the boundary zones between the both nations.

However, in the country, state television has displayed training completions of many recruits at multiple army bases.

The leader of human resources department of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an conversation that the defense forces was in a "secure situation" as "many thousands of recruits" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For over fifty years from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by colonial powers.

After World War II, it was then managed by the British military before evolving into a associated territory of Ethiopia.

Yet in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I ended this agreement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A extended armed struggle ensued, concluding with military reversal 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 good relations between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the precise positioning of their shared boundary, resulting in hostilities in 1998.

Although this concluded in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the neighbors stayed at loggerheads.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki. The two agreed to a declaration that the conflict was concluded – a move that won the Prime Minister the prestigious award.

The two governments were then cooperators in the country's 2020-2022 civil war in the northern region.

But relations have later worsened anew.