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Increasing concerns have emerged about the possibility of military engagement between East African neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as confrontational discourse has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for access to the sea coast through Eritrea has provoked a intense verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his nation's maritime access was an crucial concern, remarks that Eritrean authorities rejected.

Relations between the neighboring nations have frequently been strained. Following a long-standing battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long Red Sea coastline, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it landlocked.

In 1998, a territorial conflict broke out in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Current Comments from Ethiopian Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated control of Eritrean southern port of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the border - and implied the desire to take it by force.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "error" of losing entry to the sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrean Answer to the Claims

In the face of persistent challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been restricted to short statements on X from Communications Head Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for sea access calling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a policy of retaking former lands.

The information ministry warned on mid-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 Preparations on the Ground

Currently, there are few indications of major military movements in the border areas between the two countries.

Nevertheless, in the country, state television has displayed graduation ceremonies of many recruits at various military training camps.

The director of human resources department of the armed forces, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an conversation that the military was in a "strong stance" as "many thousands of recruits" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Previous Origins of the Dispute

For decades from 1890, Eritrea was governed by colonial powers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the British administration before turning into a integrated region of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor cancelled this agreement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year internal conflict occurred, ending with the government's loss in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then approved by the population in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, resulting in conflict in 1998.

Although this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors remained at odds.

This changed in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The both leaders endorsed a statement that the hostilities was over – a decision that earned the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's recent civil war in the northern region.

Yet ties have subsequently deteriorated anew.