What if behind the veneer of football and international sporting events, the face of Saudi Arabia was much less glamorous? Riyadh is the target of a damning report by the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) accusing it of crimes against Ethiopian migrants on the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Update on these accusations and the reactions that resulted from them.
What is Saudi Arabia accused of?
Supporting testimony, HRW accuses Saudi border guards of killing “hundreds” of Ethiopian migrants trying to enter the wealthy Gulf monarchy through its border with Yemen from March 2022 to June 2023.
In its 73-page report, the NGO relies on interviews with 38 Ethiopian migrants, satellite images and videos and photos published on social networks “or collected from other sources”. “Saudi authorities are killing hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers in this remote border area, out of sight of the rest of the world,” HRW migration specialist Nadia Hardman said in a statement. The “widespread and systematic” murder of Ethiopian migrants could even constitute a crime against humanity, HRW believes.
What do the testimonials say?
Interviewees spoke of “explosive weapons” and point-blank shooting, with Saudi border guards asking Ethiopians “what part of their body they would prefer to be shot at”. Migrants recount scenes of horror: “women, men and children scattered in the mountainous landscape, seriously injured, dismembered or already dead”.
“They were shooting at us, it was like rain [de balles] “says a 20-year-old woman from the Ethiopian region of Oromia, quoted by the NGO. “I saw a man calling for help, he had lost both his legs”, but, she says, “we couldn’t help him because we were running to save our own lives” .
People traveling in small groups or alone said border guards beat them with rocks and metal bars, the report said. Fourteen people interviewed either witnessed or were themselves injured by point-blank fire, adds HRW. Some said Saudi border guards came down from their observation posts and beat survivors.
Riyadh’s response
The Saudi authorities dispute the facts reported by the NGO. “Allegations in the Human Rights Watch report that Saudi border guards fired on Ethiopians crossing the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border are unfounded and not based on reliable sources,” he said. AFP a Saudi government source.
Joint survey with Ethiopia
The Ethiopian government has announced that it will conduct a joint investigation with Saudi Arabia. “The Ethiopian government will promptly investigate the incident in collaboration with the Saudi authorities,” the Foreign Ministry announced in a statement posted on the social network X (ex-Twitter).
“At this critical stage, it is strongly recommended to exercise the utmost restraint and not to make unnecessary statements until the investigation is completed”, adds the ministry, assuring that “the two countries, despite this unfortunate tragedy, enjoy a long and excellent relationship”.
The international community concerned
“The use of potentially lethal force for law enforcement purposes is an extreme measure that should only be used in cases of strict necessity,” the door-keeper told AFP. speech of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell. “Attempting to cross a border, even if illegal under national law, does not meet this requirement,” she added.
The United States, a longtime partner of the Gulf monarchy, called for a “thorough and transparent investigation and to respect its obligations under international law”. “We have raised our concerns about these allegations with the Saudi government,” a State Department spokesman said.
“France is closely monitoring respect for human rights in Saudi Arabia and Yemen,” said Paris in a statement to AFP. “We are addressing these issues with the Saudi authorities, including at the highest level, and calling on them to respect international law and protect civilian populations,” added the Quai d’Orsay.