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Mounting concerns exist regarding the chance of military engagement between Horn of Africa countries, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as confrontational discourse has intensified in recent weeks.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for access to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a intense rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in the previous year that his country's access to the sea was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Relations between the two countries have frequently been strained. Following a prolonged battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long sea border, formally separated from Ethiopia in 1993, rendering it landlocked.

In 1998, a border war erupted in which over a hundred thousand people died.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Government

Abiy and military leader General Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted control of Eritrean maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and suggested the desire to capture it through military means.

Recently, Abiy said the country's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "corrected tomorrow".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrean Answer to the Claims

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

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for sea access calling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a policy of claiming back former lands.

The information ministry cautioned on recently that attempts to justify "flagrant aggression" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Ground

So far, there are little evidence of large-scale army activities in the frontier regions between the two countries.

Nonetheless, in the country, national TV has broadcast completion events of thousands of cadets at different defense facilities.

The director of staff section of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an interview that the army was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Historical Origins of the Conflict

For more than half a century from 1890, Eritrea was administered by Italian colonisers.

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

Yet in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor ended this system and the region became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A extended internal conflict ensued, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Autonomy was then confirmed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the governments in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they fell out over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, leading to conflict in 1998.

Even though this finished in a truce in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations continued at loggerheads.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two agreed to a announcement that the war was over – a action that gained Abiy the prestigious award.

The two governments were then cooperators in the country's previous armed struggle in the northern region.

However relations have subsequently deteriorated once more.