🔗 Share this article

Increasing apprehensions have emerged regarding the possibility of military engagement involving Horn of Africa countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as aggressive language has ratcheted up in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Stated?

Landlocked Ethiopia's requests for entry to the Red Sea through Eritrea has provoked a fierce rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in the previous year that his country's maritime access was an vital issue, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Ties between the both governments have frequently been strained. After a long-standing battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a long maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it cut off from the sea.

In 1998, a border war started in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Recent Comments from Ethiopian Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have publicly asserted sovereignty of Eritrea's southern port of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and hinted at the desire to capture it through military means.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed in the future".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "using武力".

Eritrea's Answer to the Claims

Amid persistent threats from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been confined to concise remarks on X from Information Minister the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea labeling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a approach of claiming back previous domains.

Government spokespeople cautioned on 16 September that efforts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Ground

Currently, there are few indications of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in the country, government media has broadcast graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at multiple army bases.

The director of staff section of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an conversation that the army was in a "reliable position" as "many thousands of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Historical Background of the Dispute

For decades from 1890, the territory was governed by colonial powers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the UK forces before becoming a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

However in 1962 the ruler ended this arrangement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A extended civil war occurred, ending with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Independence was then approved by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the exact location of their shared boundary, resulting in war in 1998.

Though this concluded in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations stayed at in dispute.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader the president. The two endorsed a declaration that the hostilities was concluded – a decision that won Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.

The two governments were then partners in the country's 2020-2022 armed struggle in the northern region.

However ties have later worsened anew.