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Mounting worries have emerged over the potential of warfare between East African neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as hostile rhetoric has escalated in the last month.

What Did Ethiopia Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the sea coast through Eritrea has provoked a heated war of words.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in 2023 that his nation's access to the sea was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Relations between the both governments have often been tense. After a prolonged battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, making it cut off from the sea.

In 1998, a border war erupted in which numerous people died.

Recent Statements from Ethiopia's Government

Abiy and military leader the army commander have openly claimed sovereignty of Eritrean southern port of the port of Assab – about 60km from the boundary - and suggested the wish to capture it through military means.

On 1 September, Abiy said Ethiopia's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "corrected soon".

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be given back "using武力".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Threats

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's reaction has been confined to concise remarks on social media from Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's push for sea access labeling it "hazardous" and a "negative policy" of "expansionism" – a approach of reclaiming former lands.

The information ministry warned on 16 September that attempts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Region

Currently, there are little evidence of large-scale army activities in the boundary zones between the two countries.

However, in the country, national TV has broadcast graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The director of human resources department of the military, the officer, stated recently in an conversation that the military was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Historical Roots of the Dispute

For decades from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by Italian colonisers.

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

However in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I ended this arrangement and the region became totally absorbed into Ethiopia.

A extended civil war ensued, ending with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their common border, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the neighbors stayed at in dispute.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made overtures to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The two signed a statement that the hostilities was over – a action that earned Abiy the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then allies in Ethiopia's previous civil war in Tigray.

Yet diplomatic connections have later worsened anew.