BRUSSELS: Belgium's top legal authority on Friday suspended arms export licences for shipments to Saudi Arabia's National Guard after a complaint from human rights groups. The Council of State granted an injunction as the contracts did not meet the standard for "human rights in the end-user country and its respect for international law."

The council nevertheless decided not to block shipments to the Saudi Royal Guard, a separate unit. In February, the southern Belgian region of Wallonia halted weapons sales to Saudi Arabia's defence ministry and air force over concerns about the conduct of its war in Yemen.

Riyadh depends less on Belgian arms, but is nevertheless Wallonia's number one customer, accounting for 225 million euros ($247 million) in a 950 million euro industry in 2018.