- Italian irredentism: After establishing a colony in Eritrea, Italy wanted to expand its colonial empire in Africa.
- Ethiopian refusal to accept Italian demands: Italy demanded Ethiopia to sign a treaty of friendship guaranteeing Italy economic and political privileges. Ethiopia refused these demands.
- Italian claims over Ethiopia: Italy claimed that Ethiopia was attacking Italian interests in Somaliland, a claim that Ethiopia denied.
- Italian prestige: The Italian government wanted to reclaim the prestige that it lost in the First World War. A victory against Ethiopia would have given the Italian government a much-needed boost in popularity.
- Abyssinian Crisis: The Abyssinian Crisis was a diplomatic crisis that began in 1934 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ethiopian Empire. The crisis was triggered by the assassination of an Italian spy in Addis Ababa.