🔗 Share this article Intensifying Verbal Conflict Among Ethiopian Government and Eritrean Government Raises Concerns of Armed Clash Increasing apprehensions are present regarding the chance of military engagement involving East African neighbors, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as confrontational language has ratcheted up in the last month. The Ethiopian government and The Eritrean government were allies in the civil war in Tigray but they have subsequently disagreed. What Did Ethiopian Officials Declared? Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for access to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a intense verbal exchange. Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in the previous year that his government's sea access was an vital issue, statements that Eritrea dismissed. Ties between the both governments have frequently been strained. Following a long-standing struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a long sea border, formally separated from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, rendering it without sea access. In 1998, a border war started in which numerous people died. Latest Comments from Ethiopia's Officials Prime Minister Abiy and military leader the army commander have directly stated sovereignty of Eritrean maritime facility of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and implied the desire to take it by force. Recently, Abiy said Ethiopia's "mistake" of being denied passage to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "rectified tomorrow". The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be returned "through military action". Eritrea's Answer to the Claims Despite persistent threats from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been restricted to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel. The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "dangerous" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a policy of retaking lost territory. Government spokespeople alerted on recently that attempts to legitimise "flagrant aggression" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Defense Preparations on the Ground So far, there are few indications of major military movements in the boundary zones between the both nations. Nonetheless, in Ethiopia, government media has displayed graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at multiple army bases. The head of staff section of the armed forces, the officer, commented lately in an interview that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our opponents". Historical Origins of the Dispute For decades from the late 19th century, the territory was ruled by Italian rulers. After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the British military before turning into a associated territory of Ethiopia. However in 1962 the ruler terminated this system and the region became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state. A extended armed struggle occurred, ending with military reversal in 1991. Sovereignty was then approved by the population in a plebiscite in 1993. For a few years in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they fell out over the exact location of their mutual frontier, leading to conflict in 1998. Even though this finished in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was never fully implemented, and the both countries continued at odds. This changed in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President the president. The both leaders agreed to a statement that the conflict was concluded – a move that gained Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize. The both administrations were then allies in Ethiopia's recent civil war in Tigray. Yet diplomatic connections have later worsened again.