Fresh tensions are rising between Eritrea and Ethiopia, as Asmara accuses Addis Ababa of making threats and massing troops along their shared border.

Eritrea’s Information Minister, Yemane Gebre-Meskel, issued the allegations on social media, warning that Ethiopia’s recent moves pose a direct threat to its sovereignty.

The dispute comes as senior Ethiopian officials, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Major General Teshome Gemechu, reiterated that access to the sea is a matter of national survival.

Abiy, who linked the agenda to the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam later this month, insisted that the “price to secure maritime access is much less than the sacrifice made for the dam.

At the heart of the tension is Ethiopia’s claim over the Red Sea port city of Assab, which was ceded to Eritrea after its independence three decades ago.