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Mounting worries have emerged regarding the potential of warfare among East African countries, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as aggressive language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has triggered a fierce rhetorical conflict.

PM Abiy Ahmed previously announced in the previous year that his government's maritime access was an vital issue, comments that Eritrean authorities rejected.

Relations between the two countries have frequently been strained. Following a prolonged struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a extensive sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, making it without sea access.

In 1998, a military clash started in which over a hundred thousand people were killed.

Latest Statements from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and army chief General Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrea's southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the border - and suggested the desire to capture it through military means.

Recently, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "blunder" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "addressed in the future".

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

Eritrean Answer to the Statements

Despite continuous warnings from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been confined to short statements on social media from Communications Head the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry labeling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a approach of claiming back former lands.

The information ministry warned on 16 September that efforts to validate "obvious provocation" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Activities on the Border

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

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, state television has broadcast completion events of thousands of cadets at different defense facilities.

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

Previous Origins of the Conflict

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, the territory was governed by Italian rulers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the British military before turning into a federated part of Ethiopia.

However in 1962 the ruler cancelled this agreement and Eritrea became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A extended civil war ensued, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then confirmed by the population in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their common border, leading to conflict in 1998.

Though this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations remained at odds.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The two endorsed a announcement that the conflict was concluded – a decision that gained the Prime Minister the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then partners in Ethiopia's previous armed struggle in Tigray.

Yet relations have since broken down once more.