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Increasing concerns are present regarding the possibility of armed conflict between East African neighbors, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational discourse has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Declared?

Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for access to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a heated rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister previously announced in the previous year that his government's maritime access was an vital issue, statements that Eritrea ignored.

Relations between the two countries have regularly been difficult. After a decades-long fight for sovereignty, the Eritrean state, which has a long maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopia in 1993, rendering it without sea access.

In 1998, a military clash erupted in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated control of Eritrea's coastal city of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and suggested the wish to seize it militarily.

Recently, the Prime Minister said the country's "error" of losing entry to the sea as a because of Eritrean independence would be "rectified in the future".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrean Reaction to the Threats

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been limited to short statements on online platforms from Communications Head the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea labeling it "dangerous" and a "toxic agenda" of "territorial claims" – a policy of claiming back former lands.

Eritrean authorities alerted on recently that efforts to legitimise "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Activities on the Ground

Currently, there are no reports of significant troop deployments in the border areas between the neighboring states.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, national TV has shown graduation ceremonies of many recruits at multiple army bases.

The head of personnel division of the military, General Hachalu, stated recently in an discussion that the military was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a message to our enemies".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For more than half a century from the late 19th century, Eritrea was governed by colonial powers.

Following World War II, it was then managed by the British administration before turning into a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

However in the early 1960s the Ethiopian emperor terminated this agreement and the region became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A extended internal conflict occurred, ending with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then approved by the population in a plebiscite in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they fell out over the precise positioning of their common border, resulting in war in 1998.

Although this concluded in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations remained at loggerheads.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two endorsed a announcement that the hostilities was finished – a decision that won Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then cooperators in Ethiopia's previous internal conflict in Tigray.

But diplomatic connections have since broken down once more.