🔗 Share this article

Mounting worries are present over the potential of warfare between East African neighbors, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile discourse has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has triggered a intense war of words.

PM Abiy Ahmed first openly declared in the previous year that his nation's sea access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Relations between the neighboring nations have frequently been strained. After a decades-long struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, rendering it without sea access.

In 1998, a military clash started in which more than 100,000 people died.

Recent Remarks from Ethiopia's Government

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated ownership of Eritrean southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the frontier - and suggested the intention to capture it through military means.

In early September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "error" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "rectified soon".

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrea's Response to the Threats

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been restricted to brief comments on X from Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel.

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

Government spokespeople alerted on 16 September that efforts to validate "blatant hostility" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Movements on the Ground

Currently, there are little evidence of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the two countries.

However, in the country, national TV has displayed training completions of numerous trainees at different defense facilities.

The leader of human resources department of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an interview that the army was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a warning to our opponents".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For decades from the late 19th century, Eritrea was administered by Italian rulers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then controlled by the UK forces before evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia.

Yet in the early 1960s the ruler cancelled this arrangement and the region became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A extended internal conflict ensued, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then confirmed by voters 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 clashed over the exact location of their common border, causing hostilities in 1998.

Though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations stayed at odds.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders agreed to a announcement that the conflict was finished – a action that gained the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then allies in Ethiopia's recent internal conflict in Tigray.

Yet ties have later worsened once more.