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Growing apprehensions exist about the potential of warfare among Horn of Africa neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as hostile rhetoric has escalated in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for entry to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has sparked a intense rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in last year that his country's maritime access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Relations between the neighboring nations have often been tense. After a long-standing struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a extensive maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, rendering it cut off from the sea.

Five years later, a military clash started in which over a hundred thousand people lost their lives.

Current Remarks from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and army chief the army commander have directly stated ownership of Eritrea's coastal city of Assab – some 60 km from the frontier - and implied the desire to capture it through military means.

In early September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing access to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrean independence would be "addressed tomorrow".

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

Eritrean Answer to the Statements

Despite continuous challenges from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been restricted to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane G..

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

The information ministry alerted on recently that efforts to justify "obvious provocation" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Activities on the Ground

There have been no reports of major military movements in the border areas between the both nations.

However, in Ethiopia, state television has displayed graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at different defense facilities.

The head of human resources department of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an interview that the military was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our enemies".

Past Background of the Conflict

For decades from 1890, the territory was governed by Italian rulers.

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

Yet in the early 1960s the ruler ended this arrangement and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year civil war ensued, ending with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then endorsed by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they fell out over the exact location of their common border, causing conflict in 1998.

Even though this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries continued at odds.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made gestures to Eritrean President the president. The both leaders signed a announcement that the war was finished – a decision that earned the Prime Minister the prestigious award.

The neighboring states were then partners in Ethiopia's previous armed struggle in Tigray.

Yet ties have since broken down once more.