🔗 Share this article Intensifying War of Words Between Ethiopia and Eritrean Government Triggers Concerns of Conflict Growing worries exist regarding the possibility of armed conflict involving East African countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational discourse has ratcheted up in the past few weeks. The Ethiopian government and The Eritrean government cooperated in the internal conflict in Tigray but they have since fallen out. What Has Ethiopian Officials Declared? Landlocked Ethiopia's calls for passage to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has triggered a intense verbal exchange. The Ethiopian leader previously announced in 2023 that his nation's maritime access was an crucial concern, remarks that Eritrea dismissed. Relations between the both governments have frequently been strained. Following a long-standing struggle for freedom, Eritrea, which has a extensive sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, making it landlocked. Five years later, a territorial conflict started in which numerous people were killed. Recent Statements from Ethiopia's Government Prime Minister Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated control of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the boundary - and hinted at the intention to take it by force. On 1 September, Abiy said Ethiopia's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrean independence would be "addressed in the future". The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be given back "using武力". Eritrean Answer to the Claims Despite continuous threats from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's reaction has been confined to short statements on X from Communications Head Yemane G.. Officials have denied Ethiopia's push for sea access labeling it "hazardous" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a approach of reclaiming lost territory. The information ministry cautioned on recently that efforts to validate "blatant hostility" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Military Preparations on the Ground So far, there are no reports of major military movements in the border areas between the both nations. However, in the country, state television has shown completion events of numerous trainees at various military training camps. The director of staff section of the armed forces, the officer, commented lately in an interview that the defense forces was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of young people" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our enemies". Previous Background of the Tension For more than half a century from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by colonial powers. After Italy's defeat, it was then controlled by the UK forces before turning into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire. But in 1962 the ruler cancelled this system and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia. A three-decade long internal conflict followed, concluding with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then endorsed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993. Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their common border, resulting in hostilities in 1998. Although this finished in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors stayed at odds. This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two endorsed a announcement that the war was over – a move that gained the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize. The two governments were then partners in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war in the northern region. But diplomatic connections have since broken down anew.