🔗 Share this article

Growing concerns are present about the possibility of armed conflict involving Horn of Africa neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as confrontational language has escalated in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for entry to the sea coast through Eritrea has provoked a fierce verbal exchange.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in last year that his government's access to the sea was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrea ignored.

Relations between the both governments have regularly been difficult. Following a prolonged battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, leaving it without sea access.

Subsequently, a military clash broke out in which numerous people died.

Recent Statements from Ethiopian Officials

Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated ownership of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – about 60km from the frontier - and hinted at the intention to seize it militarily.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "error" of being denied passage to the sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "rectified tomorrow".

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

Eritrea's Answer to the Statements

In the face of continuous warnings from Ethiopia, Eritrea's response has been limited to concise remarks on X from Communications Head the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "risky" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a policy of retaking previous domains.

Government spokespeople warned on mid-September that moves to justify "blatant hostility" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "redline 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 neighboring states.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed completion events of thousands of cadets at various military training camps.

The head of human resources department of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an interview that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Past Background of the Conflict

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

Following World War II, it was then controlled by the British administration before turning into a federated part of Ethiopia.

Yet in the early 1960s the ruler cancelled this system and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long internal conflict occurred, ending with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then approved by Eritreans in a plebiscite in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their common border, causing hostilities in 1998.

Even though this concluded in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries remained at in dispute.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders agreed to a declaration that the conflict was over – a move that gained the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then cooperators in the country's recent internal conflict in the northern region.

However relations have since broken down once more.