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Growing concerns are present regarding the possibility of military engagement between East African neighbours, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile rhetoric has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Declared?

Landlocked Ethiopia's calls for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has triggered a fierce war of words.

PM Abiy Ahmed first openly declared in last year that his nation's access to the sea was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrea rejected.

Relations between the two countries have regularly been difficult. After a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in 1993, rendering it landlocked.

Subsequently, a military clash erupted in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Latest Statements from Ethiopia's Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have openly claimed control of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the frontier - and suggested the desire to seize it militarily.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "rectified soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrean Reaction to the Threats

Despite persistent threats from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been limited to short statements on social media from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

He has rejected Ethiopian requests for maritime entry labeling it "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "expansionism" – a approach of retaking former lands.

Eritrean authorities cautioned on recently that efforts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Preparations on the Ground

Currently, there are no reports of significant troop deployments in the border areas between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, national TV has broadcast completion events of many recruits at various military training camps.

The director of staff section of the military, General Hachalu, commented lately in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "strong stance" as "tens of thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a message to our enemies".

Historical Background of the Tension

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

After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the British administration before turning into a integrated region of Ethiopia.

However in the early 1960s the Ethiopian emperor cancelled this arrangement and Eritrea became totally absorbed into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year armed struggle followed, concluding with military reversal in 1991. Independence was then endorsed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their common border, leading to hostilities in 1998.

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

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

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

However ties have later worsened anew.