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Increasing apprehensions have emerged about the possibility of warfare among East African countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as hostile language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for passage to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has triggered a intense verbal exchange.

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

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have often been tense. After a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a long Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, leaving it without sea access.

Subsequently, a territorial conflict erupted in which more than 100,000 people died.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Abiy and military leader General Birhanu Jula have openly claimed control of Eritrea's maritime facility of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and implied the intention to capture it through military means.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "error" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrean independence would be "addressed in the future".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be given back "using武力".

Eritrean Reaction to the Claims

Despite continuous warnings from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been limited to concise remarks on social media from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry labeling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a policy of retaking previous domains.

The information ministry cautioned on recently that efforts to justify "obvious provocation" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Region

Currently, there are little evidence of major military movements in the boundary zones between the both nations.

Nonetheless, in the country, government media has broadcast graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at multiple army bases.

The director of personnel division of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an discussion that the military was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Past Roots of the Conflict

For decades from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by Italian rulers.

Following World War II, it was then controlled by the British military before turning into a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

However in the early 1960s the ruler cancelled this arrangement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long internal conflict followed, finishing with military reversal in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then endorsed by Eritreans in a vote in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their common border, causing war in 1998.

Though this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries remained at in dispute.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a declaration that the conflict was over – a action that won Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's previous internal conflict in Tigray.

But ties have subsequently deteriorated anew.