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Mounting worries have emerged regarding the possibility of military engagement among Horn of Africa neighbors, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopian Officials Stated?

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

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in last year that his government's sea access was an existential matter, comments that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Ties between the neighboring nations have frequently been strained. After a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a extensive Red Sea coastline, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, rendering it without sea access.

Subsequently, a military clash broke out in which numerous people were killed.

Current Statements from Ethiopian Leadership

Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated ownership of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and hinted at the wish to take it by force.

Recently, Abiy said the country's "blunder" of losing access to the sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "rectified in the future".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be returned "by force".

Eritrean Answer to the Claims

In the face of continuous challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been limited to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea calling it "hazardous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a strategy of claiming back lost territory.

Government spokespeople cautioned on mid-September that moves to justify "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Region

So far, there are few indications of major military movements in the border areas between the neighboring states.

However, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed completion events of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The director of personnel division of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, commented lately in an conversation that the military was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of youths" were entering service, which he said was "a signal to our adversaries".

Historical Origins of the Tension

For over fifty years from 1890, Eritrea was administered by Italian rulers.

Following World War II, it was then controlled by the British administration before evolving into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 the ruler terminated this system and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A extended armed struggle occurred, concluding with military reversal in 1991. Sovereignty was then approved by Eritreans in a vote in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the exact location of their common border, causing conflict in 1998.

Although this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the both countries remained at loggerheads.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders signed a declaration that the war was concluded – a action that gained Abiy the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then cooperators in Ethiopia's previous armed struggle in the northern region.

However diplomatic connections have since broken down again.