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Growing apprehensions have emerged regarding the potential of military engagement involving Horn of Africa countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as aggressive language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has sparked a fierce verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in last year that his government's maritime access was an existential matter, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Relations between the both governments have often been tense. After a long-standing battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, making it landlocked.

Subsequently, a territorial conflict broke out in which numerous people died.

Recent Comments from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrea's maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and hinted at the wish to take it by force.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "blunder" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "corrected tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "through military action".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Statements

Despite persistent threats from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's reaction has been restricted to concise remarks on online platforms from Information Minister Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopian requests for maritime entry calling it "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "expansionism" – a approach of claiming back lost territory.

Eritrean authorities warned on 16 September that moves to validate "blatant hostility" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Activities on the Region

There have been few indications of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, national TV has broadcast training completions of thousands of cadets at different defense facilities.

The leader of personnel division of the armed forces, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an conversation that the military was in a "secure situation" as "tens of thousands of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our enemies".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by colonial powers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the UK forces before evolving into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

Yet in the early 1960s the ruler cancelled this system and Eritrea became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year internal conflict occurred, ending with military reversal in the early 1990s. Autonomy was then endorsed by the population in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the exact location of their common border, leading to war in 1998.

Although this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries stayed at in dispute.

This situation improved in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders signed a declaration that the hostilities was concluded – a action that gained Abiy the international recognition.

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

But ties have subsequently deteriorated again.