π Share this article Intensifying War of Words Between Ethiopian Government and Eritrean Government Raises Fears of Conflict Growing worries exist about the potential of warfare between East African neighbours, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational language has escalated in the past few weeks. The Ethiopian government and Eritrea worked together in the armed struggle in Tigray but they have later become estranged. What Did Ethiopian Officials Declared? Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for passage to the Red Sea through Eritrea has provoked a fierce war of words. PM Abiy Ahmed first openly declared in last year that his country's access to the sea was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrean authorities dismissed. Diplomatic connections between the neighboring nations have regularly been difficult. Following a prolonged battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a extensive sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in 1993, rendering it without sea access. Five years later, a military clash broke out in which over a hundred thousand people died. Latest Statements from Ethiopia's Government Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted control of Eritrea's coastal city of Assab β some 60 km from the frontier - and implied the intention to take it by force. On 1 September, the Prime Minister said the country's "error" of being denied passage to the sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "rectified soon". Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be returned "usingζ¦ε". Eritrean Response to the Statements In the face of continuous challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's response has been restricted to brief comments on social media from Information Minister the minister. Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry calling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" β a approach of retaking previous domains. Government spokespeople cautioned on recently that moves to legitimise "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for the Ethiopian government and its neighbors and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Security Movements on the Region So far, there are few indications of large-scale army activities in the boundary zones between the neighboring states. However, in Ethiopia, government media has shown graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at different defense facilities. The leader of staff section of the military, the officer, stated recently in an interview that the defense forces was in a "strong stance" as "many thousands of young people" were enlisting, which he said was "a message to our adversaries". Historical Background of the Conflict For more than half a century from 1890, the territory was administered by Italian rulers. After the end of Italian rule, it was then administered by the British military before turning into a federated part of the Ethiopian empire. Yet in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I cancelled this arrangement and Eritrea became completely integrated into Ethiopia. A thirty-year armed struggle occurred, concluding with the government's loss in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then approved by voters in a vote in 1993. Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the exact location of their common border, resulting in war in 1998. Though this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the neighbors remained at odds. This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President the president. The two signed a declaration that the conflict was over β a action that earned Abiy the international recognition. The two governments were then allies in Ethiopia's 2020-2022 internal conflict in the northern region. But ties have later worsened again.