Belgium cancels arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia

The Belgian State Council, the highest administrative body in the country, on Friday decided to cancel the license to export arms to Saudi Arabia because of its excesses in the aggression on Yemen.

Belgian media said the reason for the cancellation was “failure to meet the criteria for controlling the export, import and transfer of arms” and “human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.”

The decision includes the “FN Herstal ” and “CMA” companies located in the Belgian Walloon region, where three quarters of the jobs in the Belgian arms industry are concentrated.

Media reports have revealed that Saudi Arabia’s use of arms and ammunition imported from Belgium in its war against Yemen.

The Belgian Government in Walloon Region announced suspending of arms exports to Saudi Arabia following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, but Belgian media revealed that the Walloon region exported military equipment to Saudi Arabia on three occasions.