Poll: 75% of French People Oppose their Country's Arm Sales to Saudi

Published March 26th, 2018 - 10:10 GMT
A view of Saudi forces in Yemen (AFP/File Photo)
A view of Saudi forces in Yemen (AFP/File Photo)

Seventy-five percent of French people wants a halt to the country’s weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the other countries involved in a destructive war on Yemen, a poll found.

According to the survey conducted by the YouGov polling company between March 20 and 21, the percentage equals seven in every 10 French people.

The results came out, Monday, coinciding with the third anniversary of the war which has left about 14,000 people dead and displaced three million others.

Among the respondents, 88 percent said France has to stop arms exports to all countries where there is a risk the weapons could be used against civilian populations.

 

 

France is the world’s third biggest arms exporter.

"On the occasion of the third anniversary of Saudi Arabia-led war in Yemen, it is high time for the (French) government to hear this message," said Eoin Dubsky, campaign manager for the SumOfUs advocacy NGO, which commissioned the survey.

"[French President] Emmanuel Macron, who presents himself to the world as a humanist president, must pass from words to deeds," he added.

In January, Germany almost stopped selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and nearly all of its allies involved in the war on Yemen.

The United States and the United Kingdom, however, have increased their arms sales to the Saudi Kingdom. 

This article has been adapted from its original source.