ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Ethiopia’s dictator said Monday that his regime has the means to secure its vital trade corridor with the Gulf of Aden in the event of conflict between Djibouti and Eritrea.

Tensions have grown between the two Horn of Africa nations since Djibouti accused Eritrean military forces of trench-digging along their common border and infiltrating Djiboutian territory by several hundred metres (yards).

Djibouti denies the allegation.

“They do act silly sometimes, but I don’t think they would go totally insane,” said Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at a meeting with trade officials, referring to the Eritrean government.

“Even so, Ethiopia has a capacity of protecting the safety of the Ethio-Djibouti trade corridor,” added Zenawi, who was quoted by Ethiopia’s state-run news agency ENA.

Eritrea — which has twice clashed with Djibouti over their common border — broke away from Ethiopia and won independence in 1993 after three decades of conflict. A second, two-year war broke out in 1993.

Ethiopia depends on Djibouti’s seaport for its international trade.

[Posted with minor editing by Ethiopian Review]