Article

Arms supply to Saudi Arabia : a possible implementation of Belgium's state responsibility ?

Odile Dua

• Revue belge de droit international, Vol. 52, 2019-1/2, p. 531-549

English

This paper aims to examine the possible implementation of Belgian responsibility, under Article 1 of the Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts ('ARSIWA'), for the arms transfers to Saudi Arabia authorised by the Walloon Region since the first intervention by the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition in 2015, in light of the IHL and IHRL violations that characterize the conflict in Yemen. The transfers are analysed in respect of three relevant sets of rules of international law. The author argues that the authorised exports are in breach of: first, the Arms Trade Treaty; second, the obligation to ensure respect of IHL, enshrined in Common Article 1 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949; and, third, the prohibition to aid and assist another State in the commission of an internationally wrongful act in the sense of Article 16 ARSIWA.

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• Revue belge de droit international = Belgian review of international law = Belgisch tijdschrift voor internationaal recht / Société belge de droit international
• Revue belge de droit international = = Belgian review of international law = Belgisch tijdschrift voor internationaal recht [Vol. 52, 2029-1/2] / Société belge de droit international