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Mounting concerns are present about the possibility of military engagement among East African countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as aggressive rhetoric has escalated in the last month.

What Did Ethiopia Stated?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has provoked a fierce verbal exchange.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in last year that his nation's maritime access was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have frequently been strained. Following a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, making it landlocked.

Subsequently, a border war broke out in which numerous people lost their lives.

Latest Comments from Ethiopian Government

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have openly claimed sovereignty of Eritrea's southern port of the port of Assab – about 60km from the boundary - and suggested the wish to take it by force.

Recently, Abiy said Ethiopia's "error" of losing access to the sea as a due to Eritrea's separation would be "rectified tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be returned "through military action".

Eritrean Reaction to the Claims

Despite continuous challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's reaction has been limited to short statements on social media from Communications Head Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry labeling it "hazardous" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a approach of retaking lost territory.

The information ministry alerted on recently that moves to justify "obvious provocation" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Ground

So far, there are no reports of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, state television has displayed completion events of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The leader of human resources department of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an discussion that the military was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Past Background of the Tension

For more than half a century from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by Italian rulers.

After the end of Italian rule, it was then controlled by the UK forces before becoming a federated part of the Ethiopian empire.

However in the early 1960s Emperor Haile Selassie I terminated this system and the region became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A three-decade long armed struggle occurred, concluding with the government's loss in 1991. Independence was then confirmed by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their mutual frontier, resulting in hostilities in 1998.

Even though this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the neighbors continued at in dispute.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made gestures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders signed a announcement that the war was concluded – a move that won Abiy the prestigious award.

The neighboring states were then allies in the country's previous internal conflict in the northern region.

But diplomatic connections have since broken down once more.