The human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses the Saudi regime of mass murder. Border guards are said to have killed hundreds of migrants from Ethiopia in cold blood since April 2022. The Ethiopian government wants to investigate the allegations – along with the alleged perpetrator state.
Ethiopia wants to work with Saudi Arabia to investigate the HRW report that Saudi Arabian border guards allegedly killed Ethiopian migrants at the border with Yemen.
“The Ethiopian government will immediately investigate the incident together with the Saudi Arabian authorities,” the Ethiopian foreign ministry said on Twitter on Tuesday (X).
Global horror
Until the investigation is complete, all “speculation” should be avoided. The HRW report published Monday had sparked fear around the world. Germany expressed “deep concern” and the US government asked Riyadh to investigate the incidents.
The EU welcomed the announced investigation on Tuesday. A Saudi government source had previously dismissed the allegations as “baseless”.
Human Rights Watch based the report on 38 witness interviews, as well as satellite images and images posted online. For example, a 20-year-old witness from Ethiopia told how Saudi Arabian border guards opened fire on a group of migrants they immediately released from custody.
The bullets fell on the migrants “like rain”.
Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians work in Saudi Arabia
Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians work in Saudi Arabia. Many are trying to reach Saudi Arabia via the perilous route through the Horn of Africa and war-torn Yemen.
According to HRW, the incidents largely occurred after a ceasefire in Yemen came into effect in April 2022. Saudi Arabia is a war party in the civil war in Yemen. According to HRW, she has been documenting the abuse of Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia and Yemen for nearly a decade.
Here’s the full HRW report you can read:
However, the recent killings appeared “widespread and systematic” and could constitute crimes against humanity, the organization said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
