Intensifying Rhetorical Battle Among Ethiopian Government and Eritrea Triggers Anxieties of Military Confrontation

Increasing apprehensions have emerged regarding the possibility of military engagement involving East African countries, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational language has intensified in the last month.

What Has Ethiopian Officials Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for entry to the sea coast through Eritrea has triggered a fierce verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his nation's maritime access was an existential matter, comments that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Ties between the neighboring nations have frequently been strained. After a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a extensive maritime frontage, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it without sea access.

Five years later, a military clash broke out in which over a hundred thousand people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Leadership

Abiy and military leader the army commander have publicly asserted sovereignty of Eritrea's maritime facility of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and hinted at the wish to take it by force.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "error" of losing access to the sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "corrected in the future".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrean Response to the Statements

In the face of continuous warnings from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been limited to short statements on online platforms from Communications Head the minister.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea calling it "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a approach of reclaiming former lands.

The information ministry warned on mid-September that moves to justify "flagrant aggression" would have serious consequences for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Movements on the Region

There have been few indications of large-scale army activities in the border areas between the neighboring states.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, state television has broadcast completion events of numerous trainees at multiple army bases.

The leader of staff section of the defense force, General Hachalu, recently said in an interview that the army was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our enemies".

Historical Origins of the Dispute

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

After the end of Italian rule, it was then administered by the British military before evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia.

Yet in 1962 the ruler cancelled this agreement and the region became totally absorbed into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year armed struggle followed, ending with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, leading to war in 1998.

Although this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors continued at odds.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President the president. The two agreed to a declaration that the conflict was over – a action that won the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's previous civil war in the northern region.

But ties have subsequently deteriorated again.