guillementIt is clear that the Walloon authorities have done nothing to improve compliance with their own decree, which is supposed to prevent arms exports that could fuel war crimes or human rights violations.”
Civilian casualties
Amnesty International, the National Coordination of Action for Peace and Democracy, the Human Rights League and Vredesactie are making public today their new report from the Walloon Arms Observatory. The latter makes a clear and alarming observation: Walloon weapons still risk fueling war crimes and human rights violations, in complete opacity.
Several concrete examples are pointed out by the organizations, and in particular the company FN Herstal. This supplied machine guns equipping helicopters and planes purchased by the Nigerian army, “even though the latter is responsible for numerous attacks that have cost the lives of dozens of civilians.” The report also highlights the presence of “FN Herstal assault rifles in the hands of military police from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, while they were carrying out an operation in July 2023 in which 30 people were killed.” Contacted, the FN Browning Group did not wish to react.
Deal worth 1.7 billion euros between FN Herstal and the Belgian state: “The Germans defend their interests and are a little aggressive, we’re not used to it”
Amnesty also reports that Wallonia exported 16 tonnes of explosive powder to Israel, even though that country’s army had been bombing the Gaza Strip for fifty days.It was also necessary to wait until February 5, for revelations in the media and an order issued by the International Court of Justice reporting a risk of genocide for the temporary suspension of two powder export licenses to be announced. of Israel”Amnesty further deplores.
“While we have been sounding the alarm for several years, it is clear that the Walloon authorities have done nothing to improve their compliance with their own decree, which is supposed to prevent arms exports that could fuel war crimes or human rights violations.”the organizations say in a press release. Before adding: “The risk that these weapons will be used against civilians is more than evident.”
What solutions?
Amnesty is clear: “The next Walloon government must do better.” Based on the Walloon decree relating to the export and transit of civilian weapons and defense-related products, the organizations behind the report effectively affirm that the next Walloon government must ensure “grant arms export licenses only to countries whose authorities do not commit serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”
“We are currently living through one of the most dangerous times in human history”
Amnesty also believes that Flanders takes more responsibility than Wallonia in its management of arms exports. In particular thanks to its increased transparency.The Flemish Region demonstrates that it is possible to do better by publishing significantly more detailed monthly reports and within much shorter deadlines […] The new Walloon government which will soon take office, whatever its composition, has a real opportunity to make a break with the bad practices of the past.conclude the organizations.
