🔗 Share this article

Mounting apprehensions exist over the possibility of military engagement involving East African neighbors, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational rhetoric has ratcheted up in recent weeks.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for access to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a intense verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader first openly declared in the previous year that his country's sea access was an vital issue, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Ties between the both governments have often been tense. Following a prolonged fight for sovereignty, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, rendering it without sea access.

In 1998, a border war broke out in which over a hundred thousand people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Leadership

Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted control of Eritrean southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the border - and hinted at the desire to seize it militarily.

Recently, Abiy said the country's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "addressed soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Threats

In the face of ongoing warnings from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been limited to concise remarks on online platforms from Information Minister the minister.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry calling it "dangerous" and a "toxic agenda" of "territorial claims" – a policy of retaking former lands.

Government spokespeople cautioned on 16 September that attempts to validate "blatant hostility" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Activities on the Region

There have been no reports of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

However, in the country, government media has shown graduation ceremonies of many recruits at multiple army bases.

The head of staff section of the armed forces, the officer, recently said in an interview that the military was in a "strong stance" as "many thousands of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For more than half a century from 1890, the territory was administered by colonial powers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the British administration before evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I cancelled this arrangement and the region became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A extended internal conflict followed, finishing with military reversal in the early 1990s. Independence was then endorsed by the population in a referendum in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the exact location of their shared boundary, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Even though this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations remained at odds.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader the president. The two agreed to a announcement that the war was over – a decision that gained Abiy the international recognition.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's recent civil war in Tigray.

But relations have since broken down anew.