🔗 Share this article Escalating Verbal Conflict Among Ethiopia and Eritrean Government Raises Fears of Armed Clash Increasing concerns are present over the chance of warfare involving East African countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as aggressive language has escalated in the last month. Ethiopia and The Eritrean government cooperated in the internal conflict in northern Ethiopia but they have since fallen out. What Did Ethiopia Stated? Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for access to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has triggered a intense rhetorical conflict. The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in 2023 that his nation's maritime access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea rejected. Ties between the both governments have often been tense. Following a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, making it without sea access. In 1998, a territorial conflict started in which numerous people lost their lives. Latest Comments from Ethiopian Government Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated ownership of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – about 60km from the frontier - and suggested the intention to take it by force. Recently, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "blunder" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "rectified soon". The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be given back "through military action". Eritrean Reaction to the Claims Despite ongoing warnings from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been restricted to brief comments on X from Communications Head Yemane G.. The minister has dismissed Ethiopian requests for maritime entry labeling it "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a strategy of reclaiming former lands. Government spokespeople alerted on recently that attempts to justify "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Security Activities on the Ground There have been little evidence of significant troop deployments in the frontier regions between the two countries. Nonetheless, in the country, state television has displayed graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at various military training camps. The head of staff section of the military, the officer, recently said in an discussion that the military was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our adversaries". Historical Origins of the Tension For more than half a century from the late 19th century, Eritrea was ruled by Italian rulers. Following World War II, it was then controlled by the UK forces before evolving into a federated part of the Ethiopian empire. But in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I ended this agreement and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia. A thirty-year internal conflict followed, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then endorsed by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993. Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their common border, leading to conflict in 1998. Though this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the neighbors stayed at loggerheads. This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrean President the president. The two signed a statement that the conflict was over – a decision that gained Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize. The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's recent internal conflict in Tigray. Yet relations have later worsened once more.