News|Refugees

Saudi Arabia rejects accusations of killing Ethiopians at Yemen border

The kingdom has refuted a report that alleged possible crimes against humanity at the country’s southern borders.

Ethiopian refugee woman holding a child in front of a makeshift shelter made with pieces of cloth and sticks
Ethiopian refugees are pictured at a camp for migrants of African origin in the Khor Maksar district of Yemen's second city of Aden on March 3, 2022 [Saleh Obaidi/AFP]
Published On 21 Aug 2023
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Updated: 
23 Aug 2023
02:42 PM (GMT)

A Saudi government source denied Human Rights Watch’s accusations that Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants.

A Saudi government source told Agence France-Presse that the accusations are baseless and not based on reliable sources.

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In a report, Human Rights Watch accused Saudi border guards of firing heavily and using explosive weapons to kill Ethiopian migrants who were trying to cross from Yemen into the kingdom.

“We have raised our concerns about these allegations with the Saudi government,” a US State Department spokesperson said on Monday.

“We urge the Saudi authorities to undertake a thorough and transparent investigation and also to meet their obligations under international law.”

On Tuesday, Ethiopia said it would work with Saudi Arabian authorities to investigate the allegations made by HRW.

“The Government of Ethiopia will promptly investigate the incident in tandem with Saudi Authorities,” the Ethiopian foreign ministry said in a statement.

There was no comment from Saudi Arabia.

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies