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Increasing concerns are present about the chance of armed conflict between East African neighbors, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as aggressive language has intensified in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Said?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has triggered a heated rhetorical conflict.

PM Abiy Ahmed previously announced in the previous year that his country's sea access was an existential matter, remarks that Eritrea rejected.

Ties between the both governments have often been tense. After a long-standing struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) sea border, officially seceded from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, making it landlocked.

Subsequently, a border war started in which numerous people were killed.

Latest Remarks from Ethiopia's Government

Abiy and military leader the army commander have openly claimed control of Eritrea's maritime facility of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and hinted at the desire to seize it militarily.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said the country's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "corrected tomorrow".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be returned "using武力".

Eritrea's Answer to the Statements

Despite continuous challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's reaction has been confined to brief comments on online platforms from Information Minister the minister.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea labeling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "irredentism" – a policy of retaking former lands.

Government spokespeople alerted on mid-September 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 Preparations on the Border

So far, there are little evidence of large-scale army activities in the frontier regions between the both nations.

However, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed completion events of thousands of cadets at different defense facilities.

The leader of staff section of the armed forces, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an conversation that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Historical Roots of the Tension

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

After World War II, it was then administered by the British administration before evolving into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I terminated this agreement and the region became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A extended armed struggle followed, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Sovereignty was then approved by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their mutual frontier, causing conflict in 1998.

Though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the two nations continued at in dispute.

This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The both leaders endorsed a statement that the hostilities was finished – a move that earned the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize.

The both administrations were then partners in Ethiopia's previous civil war in Tigray.

However relations have subsequently deteriorated once more.