🔗 Share this article

Growing concerns exist about the possibility of military engagement between Horn of Africa neighbors, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as aggressive rhetoric has escalated in the last month.

What Has Ethiopia Stated?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has triggered a fierce war of words.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in 2023 that his government's sea access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea ignored.

Ties between the neighboring nations have often been tense. After a long-standing battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, making it landlocked.

Subsequently, a border war erupted in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Latest Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated control of Eritrean maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the frontier - and implied the desire to seize it militarily.

In early September, the Prime Minister said the country's "blunder" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be returned "using武力".

Eritrea's Answer to the Statements

Despite continuous threats from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been limited to concise remarks on social media from Communications Head Yemane G..

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "expansionism" – a strategy of claiming back former lands.

The information ministry cautioned on mid-September that efforts to validate "obvious provocation" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Region

There have been little evidence of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in the country, government media has displayed graduation ceremonies of many recruits at various military training camps.

The head of personnel division of the armed forces, General Hachalu, recently said in an conversation that the army was in a "secure situation" as "tens of thousands of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our adversaries".

Previous Background of the Conflict

For over fifty years from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by colonial powers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then controlled by the British administration before evolving into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

But in the early 1960s the Ethiopian emperor ended this system and Eritrea became totally absorbed into Ethiopia.

A extended civil war ensued, ending with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then endorsed by the population in a vote in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they clashed over the exact location of their shared boundary, resulting in hostilities in 1998.

Though this finished in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors continued at odds.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a statement that the war was over – a move that earned Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then partners in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 armed struggle in the northern region.

But relations have since broken down again.