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Growing worries exist about the potential of warfare among East African countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive rhetoric has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for access to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has provoked a fierce verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in the previous year that his country's access to the sea was an crucial concern, remarks that Eritrea ignored.

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have frequently been strained. After a long-standing struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, leaving it without sea access.

Five years later, a military clash erupted in which more than 100,000 people died.

Recent Statements from Ethiopia's Leadership

Abiy and military leader the army commander have publicly asserted control of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and suggested the desire to capture it through military means.

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

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "through military action".

Eritrea's Answer to the Claims

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been limited to concise remarks on social media from Information Minister Yemane G..

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea labeling it "hazardous" and a "negative policy" of "irredentism" – a policy of claiming back lost territory.

Eritrean authorities cautioned on recently that efforts to justify "obvious provocation" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its neighbors and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Movements on the Region

So far, there are few indications of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the both nations.

However, in Ethiopia, state television has displayed training completions of many recruits at different defense facilities.

The leader of staff section of the armed forces, General Hachalu, recently said in an discussion that the military was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of recruits" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our adversaries".

Historical Background of the Dispute

For more than half a century from 1890, the territory was ruled by Italian rulers.

After the end of Italian rule, it was then managed by the British military before evolving into a federated part of the Ethiopian empire.

Yet in 1962 the ruler ended this agreement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year civil war occurred, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then endorsed by the population in a referendum in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were good relations between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they fell out over the exact location of their shared boundary, resulting in war in 1998.

Although this finished in a truce in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the two nations continued at loggerheads.

This changed in 2018, when the Prime Minister made overtures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The two signed a declaration that the hostilities was finished – a decision that earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.

The two governments were then partners in Ethiopia's previous internal conflict in the northern region.

But relations have subsequently deteriorated once more.