🔗 Share this article Rising Rhetorical Battle Between Ethiopian Government and Eritrean Government Triggers Anxieties of Armed Clash Mounting worries are present about the chance of armed conflict involving Horn of Africa neighbors, the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean government, as hostile rhetoric has escalated in the past few weeks. Ethiopia and The Eritrean government cooperated in the internal conflict in northern Ethiopia but they have subsequently disagreed. What Has Ethiopian Officials Said? Landlocked Ethiopia's calls for access to the maritime outlet through Eritrean territory has provoked a heated rhetorical conflict. The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in last year that his nation's access to the sea was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrean authorities rejected. Ties between the two countries have regularly been difficult. After a long-standing battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in 1993, making it cut off from the sea. Subsequently, a border war erupted in which more than 100,000 people died. Latest Remarks from Ethiopia's Leadership Abiy and army chief General Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrea's maritime facility of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and hinted at the wish to capture it through military means. Recently, Abiy said Ethiopia's "mistake" of losing access to the Red Sea as a because of Eritrea secession would be "addressed in the future". Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that Assab was "belonging to Ethiopia" and would be returned "through military action". Eritrean Answer to the Claims In the face of persistent threats from Ethiopia, Eritrea's response has been limited to brief comments on social media from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel. The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea labeling it "risky" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a approach of reclaiming former lands. Government spokespeople warned on 16 September that efforts to justify "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its neighbors and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached". Defense Movements on the Ground So far, there are few indications of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states. Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, national TV has broadcast graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at various military training camps. The head of human resources department of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, stated recently in an discussion that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of young people" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our adversaries". Previous Roots of the Dispute For over fifty years from 1890, the territory was governed by colonial powers. Following Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the UK forces before evolving into a federated part of Ethiopia. But in 1962 the ruler ended this system and Eritrea became totally absorbed into the Ethiopian state. A three-decade long armed struggle ensued, finishing with Ethiopia's defeat in 1991. Sovereignty was then confirmed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993. Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the precise positioning of their common border, leading to hostilities in 1998. Though this concluded in a ceasefire agreement in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the both countries stayed at loggerheads. This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a statement that the conflict was over – a move that earned the Prime Minister the Nobel Peace Prize. The neighboring states were then partners in the country's previous civil war in the northern region. Yet relations have later worsened anew.