When made aware of probable huge human rights violations, Germany halted a training program for Saudi border guards, who have been involved in the widespread slaughter of migrants at the country's border with Yemen.
According to the German interior ministry, the training conducted by the federal police service for the Saudi border force has been "discontinued after reports of possible massive human rights violations became known and, as a precaution, are no longer included in the current training program."
The statement further pointed out that the border region between Saudi Arabia and Yemen was never used for the said training. It is unclear when Germany chose to stop funding the training.
Accusations of Shooting Migrants
Saudi Arabia has disputed reports that its border authorities murdered hundreds of individuals who were being transported as they attempted to cross the border during the last three years.
Allegations that Saudi security forces opened fire on migrants crossing the border from Yemen initially surfaced in 2020 and intensified last year up to this year.
An August study by Human Rights Watch matched the claims made in a letter issued to Saudi Arabia by a group of UN rapporteurs in October 2022, who claimed that hundreds of mostly Ethiopian trafficking migrants had been slain by Saudi police at the border.
According to a story earlier this week, the US and Germany have participated in long-term training programs for forces headed by the Saudi Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for land and marine security, including the country's border force.
Also Read : Saudi Border Guards Reportedly Open Fire 'Like Rain' on Ethiopian Migrants, Killing Hundreds: Report
US Amid the Issue
As reported by The Guardian, the US has denied training any members of Saudi Arabia's border force responsible for land security. Still, it has been unable to confirm whether or not any of the other Ministry of the Interior personnel that have received American training have been sent to the border.
The State Department told The Guardian it was not aware of any Saudi land border guards receiving training from the US government at the present time.
"As far as we know, no land border guards completed the US military provided training from 2015 to 2023 for Saudi border guards. This training focused on maritime security and coastguard operations."
A State Department spokesperson added little information about the Saudi-Yemeni border, including which Saudi soldiers are operating there and if additional Ministry of the Interior forces may have received US training. "That's why we have pressed Saudi Arabia to thoroughly and transparently investigate these allegations."
Numerous Saudi units have been stationed there in security responsibilities, many under the interior ministry's cover. This makes it difficult to determine which units may have been engaged in the alleged murders in the Yemen border region.
