Amnesty: UAE to supply Yemen militants with Western weapons

Amnesty international has accused the United Arab Emirates, to supply militias in Yemen-conflict-with weapons of Western countries. Also Germany would have to cease, therefore, arms exports to all Yemen Parties in the conflict.

Georg Schwarte, ARD Studio New York

Kill German weapons in Yemen? Amnesty International shows the Finger at the United Arab Emirates. The charge: The country, the military on the side of Saudi Arabia in Yemen, the Yemeni government, and guiding of weapons imports to marauding militias in Yemen, the war - weapons from Germany.

"We have to Rheinmetall, for example, German machine guns seen in the hands of a militia. Which could come from stocks held by the Emirates," said Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International. He raises serious allegations against a number of European countries - but also countries such as the USA and South Africa.

For 2015, the start of the Yemen war, had received the United Arab Emirates arms exports a total value of over $ 3.5 billion. Weapons, which appeared in Yemen in the hands of this uncontrollable militias, with no jurisdiction are subject to, and not accountable to anybody. "We have documented the Bulgarian rifles, Belgian machine guns, Serbian small arms, but also armored vehicles from the United States and South Africa in these militias," said Wilcken.