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Mounting apprehensions are present over the possibility of armed conflict among Horn of Africa neighbours, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational rhetoric has escalated in the last month.

What Did Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the sea coast through Eritrea has triggered a intense rhetorical conflict.

PM Abiy Ahmed initially stated publicly in last year that his country's access to the sea was an existential matter, statements that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have regularly been difficult. After a long-standing battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, leaving it landlocked.

Subsequently, a border war started in which numerous people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have publicly asserted sovereignty of Eritrean southern port of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the frontier - and suggested the wish to capture it through military means.

Recently, Abiy said Ethiopia's "error" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrean independence would be "rectified in the future".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Statements

In the face of continuous challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been confined to short statements on social media from Information Minister the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea labeling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a approach of reclaiming former lands.

Government spokespeople alerted on mid-September that moves to justify "blatant hostility" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Movements on the Border

So far, there are few indications of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, government media has broadcast graduation ceremonies of many recruits at different defense facilities.

The leader of human resources department of the defense force, the officer, recently said in an interview that the army was in a "reliable position" as "many thousands of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Past Roots of the Conflict

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

After World War II, it was then managed by the British military before becoming a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

But in the early 1960s the ruler terminated this arrangement and the region became totally absorbed into Ethiopia.

A extended armed struggle occurred, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Autonomy was then confirmed by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their mutual frontier, causing conflict in 1998.

Although this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations continued at odds.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders signed a statement that the hostilities was over – a move that earned Abiy the international recognition.

The both administrations were then partners in the country's recent internal conflict in the northern region.

However ties have since broken down anew.