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Mounting apprehensions have emerged over the chance of military engagement among Horn of Africa neighbors, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as aggressive language has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Stated?

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

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in the previous year that his nation's maritime access was an existential matter, remarks that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Ties between the both governments have frequently been strained. Following a long-standing fight for sovereignty, 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 border war started in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Recent Comments from Ethiopian Government

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader General Birhanu Jula have openly claimed control of Eritrea's maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and suggested the intention to seize it militarily.

On 1 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 "corrected tomorrow".

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

Eritrea's Response to the Statements

Despite persistent threats from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been limited to short statements on social media from Communications Head the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopian requests for sea access calling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a strategy of reclaiming previous domains.

Government spokespeople cautioned on mid-September that moves to validate "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Border

Currently, there are no reports of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The head of personnel division of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an discussion that the army was in a "reliable position" as "many thousands of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Historical Background of the Tension

For decades from the late 19th century, Eritrea was ruled by colonial powers.

After World War II, it was then controlled by the British military before becoming a federated part of the Ethiopian empire.

However in the early 1960s Emperor Haile Selassie I terminated this arrangement and the region became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year internal conflict occurred, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Sovereignty was then approved by Eritreans in a vote in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, resulting in conflict in 1998.

Though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries remained at loggerheads.

This situation improved in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki. The both leaders endorsed a announcement that the hostilities was concluded – a action that gained the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The two governments were then allies in the country's previous internal conflict in the northern region.

Yet relations have subsequently deteriorated anew.