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Increasing apprehensions exist about the chance of armed conflict among East African neighbours, the Ethiopian government and Eritrea, as confrontational language has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for entry to the Red Sea through Eritrea has triggered a intense war of words.

The Ethiopian leader first openly declared in last year that his nation's sea access was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Ties between the both governments have regularly been difficult. After a prolonged struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, making it without sea access.

Five years later, a military clash started in which numerous people lost their lives.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrean coastal city of the port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the frontier - and suggested the intention to capture it through military means.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "rectified soon".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrean Reaction to the Claims

Amid persistent warnings from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been confined to short statements on social media from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "dangerous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a policy of retaking lost territory.

The information ministry cautioned on 16 September that moves to justify "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Movements on the Ground

So far, there are few indications of large-scale army activities in the boundary zones between the both nations.

Nevertheless, in the country, state television has displayed completion events of numerous trainees at different defense facilities.

The head of personnel division of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "secure situation" as "many thousands of recruits" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our enemies".

Past Background of the Tension

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, Eritrea was administered by colonial powers.

Following the end of Italian rule, it was then administered by the UK forces before evolving into a integrated region of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 the ruler ended this arrangement and the region became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A extended internal conflict followed, ending with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Sovereignty was then confirmed by voters in a vote in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they fell out over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, causing conflict in 1998.

Although this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the neighbors remained at in dispute.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President the president. The both leaders endorsed a declaration that the war was over – a decision that gained Abiy the prestigious award.

The both administrations were then cooperators in the country's 2020-2022 civil war in the northern region.

But diplomatic connections have later worsened again.