Rising War of Words Among Ethiopia and Eritrean Government Sparks Concerns of Conflict

Growing concerns have emerged regarding the potential of armed conflict between Horn of Africa neighbours, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as hostile discourse has intensified in the last month.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Said?

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

PM Abiy Ahmed first openly declared in the previous year that his country's sea access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the both governments have often been tense. After a long-standing fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it cut off from the sea.

In 1998, a territorial conflict erupted in which over a hundred thousand people were killed.

Current Comments from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and military leader the army commander have openly claimed ownership of Eritrean maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and hinted at the desire to seize it militarily.

Recently, Abiy said Ethiopia's "error" of being denied passage to the sea as a due to Eritrean independence would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be returned "through military action".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Amid continuous warnings from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been confined to concise remarks on online platforms from Communications Head the minister.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for sea access labeling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "territorial claims" – a policy of claiming back former lands.

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

Defense Movements on the Ground

So far, there are little evidence of significant troop deployments in the border areas between the two countries.

However, in the country, state television has displayed graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at various military training camps.

The head of human resources department of the armed forces, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an conversation that the defense forces was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a warning to our opponents".

Past Background of the Dispute

For over fifty years from 1890, Eritrea was administered by colonial powers.

Following World War II, it was then controlled by the British military before evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia.

But in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor terminated this system and the region became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long internal conflict followed, concluding with military reversal in 1991. Sovereignty was then endorsed by the population in a vote in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their common border, causing war in 1998.

Though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries continued at odds.

This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President the president. The two endorsed a announcement that the hostilities was finished – a action that gained the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The both administrations were then cooperators in the country's 2020-2022 internal conflict in Tigray.

However relations have since broken down anew.