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Increasing apprehensions exist regarding the chance of warfare between Horn of Africa neighbours, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as hostile language has escalated in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for passage to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has triggered a heated war of words.

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in last year that his nation's maritime access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Relations between the neighboring nations have often been tense. After a prolonged battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a long maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it landlocked.

Subsequently, a military clash started in which more than 100,000 people died.

Current Statements from Ethiopian Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief the army commander have directly stated sovereignty of Eritrean southern port of the port of Assab – about 60km from the frontier - and implied the intention to seize it militarily.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "error" of being denied passage to the sea as a due to Eritrea's separation would be "rectified soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be given back "using武力".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Despite continuous warnings from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been confined to concise remarks on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for sea access calling it "dangerous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a approach of claiming back previous domains.

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

Defense Preparations on the Border

Currently, there are few indications of major military movements in the boundary zones between the two countries.

Nonetheless, in the country, government media has displayed completion events of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The leader of personnel division of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an conversation that the army was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of young people" were enlisting, which he said was "a warning to our opponents".

Historical Origins of the Tension

For decades from 1890, the territory was ruled by Italian colonisers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then controlled by the UK forces before evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor ended this agreement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year civil war followed, finishing with the government's loss in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then approved by Eritreans in a plebiscite in 1993.

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

Though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries continued at loggerheads.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrea's leader the president. The two agreed to a declaration that the war was concluded – a decision that earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.

The neighboring states were then allies in the country's recent civil war in the northern region.

But relations have later worsened again.