South African Arms Exports Fuel Yemen Crisis, Facing High Court Review
South Africa has been accused of contributing to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen by approving arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two countries involved in the military intervention in Yemen since 2015. Reports indicate that South Africa has authorized approximately R9.2 billion worth of arms exports to these nations. The situation has prompted a high court review of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee’s (NCACC) decision to continue authorizing weapon sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Yemen has been embroiled in turmoil since 2014, when militants overthrew the government, leading to a military campaign by a coalition of countries led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This campaign has resulted in civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a severe humanitarian crisis marked by mass starvation and disease outbreaks.
According to Open Secrets, an NGO, South African arms company Rheinmetall Denel is implicated in supplying mortars used by the Saudi-UAE-led coalition in Yemen. This revelation has prompted the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and Open Secrets to launch a high court application seeking to review and set aside the NCACC’s decision to authorize weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The NCACC is legally obliged to refrain from granting arms export permits if the weapons will be used to escalate conflicts or if they are destined for governments with a record of human rights abuses.
As the court proceedings unfold, nine companies, including Rheinmetall Denel and Paramount Land Systems, have opposed the application, arguing that certain details of the approved arms transactions are commercially confidential. Negotiations are ongoing to address this matter and allow for the start of the judicial review.
Despite the controversy, South African arms companies continue to benefit from Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s demand for weapons. In 2022 alone, the NCACC approved the export of bombs, shells, and other military items worth R614 million to the UAE. The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) has also shown support for arms companies by assisting them in attending a defense exhibition in the UAE. The DTIC sees the Middle East as a crucial market for South Africa’s defense products and services, and the UAE as key to the country’s export strategy in the region.
While arms exports to Saudi Arabia have declined, the kingdom is endeavoring to develop its own weapons manufacturing sector, aiming to produce 50% of its arms by 2030. Several South African companies, such as Milkor and Etion Create, have been involved in this process. Milkor received a license from the Saudi Ministry of Investment to establish a military equipment factory in the kingdom, while Etion Create has engaged with stakeholders in the Saudi defense sector.
It remains to be seen how the high court review will unfold and whether South Africa’s arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE will face further scrutiny. The outcome of this case will have significant implications not only for South Africa’s involvement in the Yemen crisis but also for the global arms trade and efforts to mitigate human rights abuses associated with it.
