🔗 Share this article Escalating Verbal Conflict Among Ethiopia and Eritrea Triggers Fears of Conflict Increasing apprehensions are present regarding the chance of armed conflict between East African countries, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as confrontational rhetoric has intensified in the past few weeks. Ethiopia and Eritrea cooperated in the civil war in northern Ethiopia but they have later become estranged. What Did Ethiopian Officials Said? Ethiopia's, being landlocked, requests for entry to the sea coast through Eritrea has triggered a heated rhetorical conflict. PM Abiy Ahmed initially stated publicly in last year that his government's maritime access was an existential matter, statements that Eritrean authorities rejected. Relations between the both governments have often been tense. After a long-standing battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a long Red Sea coastline, legally broke away from Ethiopia in 1993, making it landlocked. In 1998, a territorial conflict erupted in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives. Latest Comments from Ethiopia's Officials Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated sovereignty of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the boundary - and hinted at the wish to capture it through military means. Recently, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "blunder" of losing entry to the sea as a due to Eritrea secession would be "rectified tomorrow". Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be restored "through military action". Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims Amid persistent challenges from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been restricted to short statements on social media from Communications Head Yemane G.. Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry describing it as "risky" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a policy of retaking former lands. The information ministry warned on recently that moves to legitimise "blatant hostility" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Defense Movements on the Ground So far, there are no reports of significant troop deployments in the boundary zones between the two countries. However, in the country, state television has broadcast completion events of numerous trainees at various military training camps. The leader of human resources department of the military, the officer, stated recently in an interview that the army was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of recruits" were enlisting, which he said was "a message to our adversaries". Past Origins of the Conflict For over fifty years from the late 19th century, the territory was governed by colonial powers. Following World War II, it was then administered by the British military before becoming a integrated region of Ethiopia. But in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor cancelled this agreement and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia. A extended internal conflict ensued, finishing with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then confirmed by the population in a referendum in 1993. For a few years in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their mutual frontier, resulting in conflict in 1998. Although this ended in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations remained at odds. This situation improved in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders agreed to a declaration that the hostilities was finished – a action that gained Abiy the international recognition. The two governments were then partners in the country's previous internal conflict in the northern region. However relations have since broken down anew.