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Growing concerns have emerged over the chance of armed conflict among Horn of Africa neighbors, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as aggressive rhetoric has escalated in the last month.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has triggered a heated rhetorical conflict.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his country's access to the sea was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Diplomatic connections between the two countries have regularly been difficult. Following a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it without sea access.

In 1998, a military clash broke out in which more than 100,000 people died.

Latest Statements from Ethiopian Government

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated control of Eritrean southern port of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and implied the desire to seize it militarily.

Recently, the Prime Minister said the country's "mistake" of losing entry to the sea as a result of Eritrean independence would be "rectified soon".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "through military action".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Despite persistent threats from Ethiopia, Eritrea's response has been limited to brief comments on X from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

He has rejected Ethiopia's push for sea access calling it "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "irredentism" – a policy of reclaiming lost territory.

Eritrean authorities alerted on 16 September that moves to validate "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Movements on the Ground

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

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed graduation ceremonies of many recruits at different defense facilities.

The head of staff section of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, recently said in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a message to our adversaries".

Previous Origins of the Tension

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

After World War II, it was then managed by the British administration before becoming a integrated region of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 the ruler cancelled this agreement and the region became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A extended armed struggle followed, ending with the government's loss in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by the population in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their mutual frontier, resulting in hostilities in 1998.

Although this ended in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors remained at odds.

This situation improved in 2018, when the Prime Minister made gestures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two signed a declaration that the war was concluded – a action that earned the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize.

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

Yet diplomatic connections have later worsened once more.