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Increasing apprehensions exist about the chance of military engagement between East African countries, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as aggressive rhetoric has intensified in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Said?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for passage to the sea coast through Eritrea has triggered a fierce rhetorical conflict.

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in last year that his government's maritime access was an vital issue, statements that Eritrea rejected.

Relations between the neighboring nations have regularly been difficult. Following a decades-long struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a long Red Sea coastline, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, making it without sea access.

In 1998, a territorial conflict broke out in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Latest Remarks from Ethiopian Government

Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated control of Eritrea's southern port of Assab – some 60 km from the frontier - and suggested the wish to capture it through military means.

Recently, Abiy said Ethiopia's "mistake" of being denied passage to the sea as a result of Eritrean independence would be "addressed tomorrow".

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

Eritrea's Reaction to the Statements

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's response has been limited to concise remarks on social media from Communications Head the minister.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry labeling it "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a approach of retaking former lands.

Government spokespeople warned on 16 September that moves to validate "obvious provocation" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Ground

There have been few indications of large-scale army activities in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, state television has broadcast completion events of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The leader of staff section of the military, General Hachalu, recently said in an interview that the military was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Previous Origins of the Tension

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

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

Yet in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I ended this system and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year armed struggle occurred, finishing with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by voters in a vote in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were good relations between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their mutual frontier, leading to conflict in 1998.

Although this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations continued at loggerheads.

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

The both administrations were then cooperators in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray.

But diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated again.