Saudis used ‘incentives and threats’ to shut down UN investigation in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has reportedly used incentives and threats to shut down a UN investigation of human rights violations committed in Yemen. British media quote sources with close knowledge of the matter as saying that Riyadh has lobbied heavily against the Yemen probe. They say the Saudis even succeeded in their effort when the UN Human Rights Council voted against extending an independent war crimes probe. Sources describe the Saudi lobbying move as a stealth campaign in which, they say, Riyadh influences officials in order to guarantee the defeat of the measure. As part of the campaign, the kingdom is alleged to have threatened Indonesia and given incentives to Togo. Saud Arabia along with some regional allies waged a war on Yemen in 2015. Tens of thousands of Yemenis, mostly civilians have been killed since then.