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Increasing worries are present about the possibility of warfare among Horn of Africa neighbours, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as hostile discourse has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for entry to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has provoked a intense war of words.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in last year that his government's access to the sea was an crucial concern, remarks that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Relations between the both governments have regularly been difficult. After a prolonged battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, leaving it landlocked.

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

Recent Remarks from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated control of Eritrean maritime facility of Assab – about 60km from the frontier - and implied the intention to seize it militarily.

In early September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "error" of being denied passage to the sea as a because of Eritrean independence would be "rectified tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "through military action".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Despite continuous warnings from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been limited to short statements on online platforms from Communications Head the minister.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for sea access labeling it "dangerous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a approach of retaking lost territory.

Government spokespeople warned on recently that moves to justify "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Preparations on the Ground

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

Nevertheless, in the country, national TV has broadcast completion events of many recruits at various military training camps.

The head of staff section of the armed forces, the officer, stated recently in an interview that the defense forces was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a message to our adversaries".

Previous Roots of the Conflict

For more than half a century from 1890, the territory was governed by Italian rulers.

After World War II, it was then administered by the British military before becoming a federated part of Ethiopia.

But in the early 1960s the ruler cancelled this arrangement and Eritrea became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A three-decade long internal conflict followed, concluding with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Autonomy was then endorsed by Eritreans in a referendum in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they fell out over the specific demarcation of their common border, leading to hostilities in 1998.

Even though this ended in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations stayed at loggerheads.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made gestures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a declaration that the conflict was over – a move that won the Prime Minister the prestigious award.

The neighboring states were then allies in the country's previous armed struggle in Tigray.

Yet diplomatic connections have since broken down again.