🔗 Share this article Intensifying War of Words Involving Ethiopia and Eritrean Government Sparks Concerns of Conflict Growing concerns are present about the possibility of warfare between East African neighbours, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as confrontational discourse has intensified in recent weeks. The Ethiopian government and The Eritrean government worked together in the armed struggle in Tigray but they have since fallen out. What Has Ethiopian Officials Stated? Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has triggered a fierce verbal exchange. Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in 2023 that his nation's maritime access was an vital issue, comments that Eritrean authorities rejected. Relations between the two countries have often been tense. After a decades-long fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a long maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it without sea access. Five years later, a military clash started in which more than 100,000 people were killed. Recent Statements from Ethiopian Leadership Abiy and army chief General Birhanu Jula have directly stated sovereignty of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and suggested the desire to take it by force. Recently, Abiy said the country's "blunder" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "corrected tomorrow". The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "through military action". Eritrean Reaction to the Claims Despite persistent challenges from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been confined to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head the minister. Officials have denied Ethiopian requests for sea access labeling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "expansionism" – a policy of retaking previous domains. The information ministry cautioned on recently that attempts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Defense Movements on the Region So far, there are little evidence of major military movements in the border areas between the neighboring states. However, in the country, state television has shown graduation ceremonies of many recruits at different defense facilities. The leader of staff section of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, recently said in an conversation that the army was in a "strong stance" as "tens of thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a message to our adversaries". Past Roots of the Conflict For more than half a century from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by Italian rulers. After World War II, it was then managed by the UK forces before becoming a integrated region of Ethiopia. Yet in the early 1960s Emperor Haile Selassie I terminated this arrangement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia. A three-decade long internal conflict occurred, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Sovereignty was then endorsed by the population in a referendum in 1993. Briefly in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their common border, causing conflict in 1998. Though this concluded in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors remained at odds. This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The two endorsed a statement that the conflict was finished – a decision that gained the Prime Minister the international recognition. The neighboring states were then allies in Ethiopia's recent internal conflict in Tigray. Yet relations have since broken down again.