🔗 Share this article Intensifying Verbal Conflict Among Ethiopia and Eritrea Raises Anxieties of Armed Clash Growing concerns have emerged regarding the potential of armed conflict among East African countries, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as hostile rhetoric has intensified in recent weeks. Ethiopia and Eritrea worked together in the internal conflict in northern Ethiopia but they have later become estranged. What Has Ethiopian Officials Said? Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has provoked a fierce rhetorical conflict. PM Abiy Ahmed first openly declared in the previous year that his country's maritime access was an existential matter, remarks that Eritrean authorities rejected. Relations between the neighboring nations have regularly been difficult. After a decades-long struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a long sea border, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, rendering it without sea access. Subsequently, a military clash erupted in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives. Current Comments from Ethiopian Officials Abiy and military leader General Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted sovereignty of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – about 60km from the border - and suggested the wish to capture it through military means. On 1 September, Abiy said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "addressed tomorrow". The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be given back "using武力". Eritrean Reaction to the Statements Despite ongoing warnings from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been restricted to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head the minister. The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea labeling it "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a strategy of claiming back lost territory. The information ministry alerted on recently that attempts to justify "blatant hostility" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its neighbors and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Military Movements on the Border There have been little evidence of large-scale army activities in the frontier regions between the both nations. However, in the country, state television has shown completion events of thousands of cadets at different defense facilities. The director of personnel division of the defense force, the officer, commented lately in an discussion that the military was in a "strong stance" as "many thousands of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a warning to our enemies". Historical Background of the Dispute For decades from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by Italian colonisers. Following Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the UK forces before evolving into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire. However in the early 1960s the Ethiopian emperor cancelled this agreement and the region became totally absorbed into Ethiopia. A extended civil war occurred, ending with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Sovereignty was then approved by the population in a vote in 1993. For a few years in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they fell out over the precise positioning of their common border, resulting in hostilities in 1998. Though this finished in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries continued at loggerheads. This ended in 2018, when the Prime Minister made gestures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two agreed to a statement that the conflict was over – a decision that gained Abiy the international recognition. The both administrations were then partners in Ethiopia's recent armed struggle in the northern region. Yet ties have subsequently deteriorated anew.