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Mounting concerns have emerged over the possibility of armed conflict involving Horn of Africa neighbors, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive discourse has ratcheted up in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has provoked a heated verbal exchange.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in 2023 that his country's sea access was an vital issue, statements that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Relations between the both governments have regularly been difficult. After a long-standing struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a long sea border, officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, making it landlocked.

Five years later, a military clash started in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Latest Comments from Ethiopian Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have publicly asserted control of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and suggested the intention to seize it militarily.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "mistake" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "rectified soon".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be returned "through military action".

Eritrea's Answer to the Threats

In the face of ongoing challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's response has been limited to brief comments on online platforms from Information Minister Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea labeling it "hazardous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a approach of retaking former lands.

Government spokespeople warned on recently that attempts to justify "obvious provocation" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Border

Currently, there are few indications of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, government media has shown completion events of many recruits at different defense facilities.

The leader of personnel division of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "secure situation" as "tens of thousands of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a message to our opponents".

Previous Roots of the Conflict

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

After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the UK forces before becoming a associated territory of Ethiopia.

But in the early 1960s the ruler terminated this system and the region became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A extended civil war ensued, finishing with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Autonomy was then confirmed by the population in a vote in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the governments in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, causing conflict in 1998.

Though this concluded in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations continued at loggerheads.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made overtures to Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki. The both leaders agreed to a declaration that the conflict was finished – a action that earned Abiy the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then allies in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 internal conflict in the northern region.

Yet relations have since broken down once more.