Rising Rhetorical Battle Between Ethiopia and Eritrean Government Raises Anxieties of Conflict

Growing worries exist regarding the chance of military engagement between Horn of Africa countries, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as aggressive discourse has intensified in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Declared?

Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for access to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has provoked a intense war of words.

Ethiopian Prime Minister initially stated publicly in 2023 that his nation's access to the sea was an vital issue, comments that Eritrea rejected.

Relations between the neighboring nations have frequently been strained. Following a decades-long struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it without sea access.

Subsequently, a military clash started in which over a hundred thousand people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopian Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief General Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrean coastal city of Assab – about 60km from the boundary - and implied the intention to capture it through military means.

On 1 September, Abiy said the country's "error" of losing entry to the sea as a due to Eritrea's separation would be "corrected in the future".

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopian property" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrea's Response to the Claims

Amid ongoing threats from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been limited to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea calling it "hazardous" and a "negative policy" of "expansionism" – a approach of claiming back former lands.

Government spokespeople alerted on 16 September that attempts to validate "blatant hostility" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Activities on the Region

Currently, there are no reports of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

However, in the country, government media has broadcast graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at multiple army bases.

The director of staff section of the military, the officer, recently said in an conversation that the military was in a "strong stance" as "tens of thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our opponents".

Previous Origins of the Conflict

For decades from 1890, Eritrea was ruled by Italian rulers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then controlled by the UK forces before evolving into a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 the ruler cancelled this arrangement and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long civil war occurred, ending with military reversal in 1991. Sovereignty was then endorsed by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their shared boundary, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Though this finished in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the both countries remained at in dispute.

This changed in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki. The two signed a announcement that the hostilities was concluded – a decision that won Abiy the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then allies in the country's previous civil war in Tigray.

But diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated once more.