By Matt Payton
The UK arms sales to governments listed by the Foreign Office as having dubious human rights records has increased to £3 billion.
More than £3 billion of sales was licensed for export in 2015 to 21 of the Foreign Office’s list of 30 "human rights priority countries".
The countries on the list are where "the worst, or greatest number of, human rights violations take place" or "where we judge the UK can make a real difference".
Last year, British companies sold weapons and military equipment to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Burundi.
According to documents shared with the Observer, only £170 million of arms sales were licensed to export in 2014 to 18 of the 27 countries on the "priority list".
This massive increase last year has been attributed to sales to Saudi Arabia, including a £1.7 billion fighter jet deal licensed in May 2015 and a £990 million air-to-air missiles deal licensed in July 2015.
These deals took place after Saudi Arabia started bombing targets in Yemen in March 2015. There are serious concerns civilian buildings in Yemen have been targeted.
It comes after The Independent revealed 16 of the priority list countries were being provided with training and military support by the UK since 2014.
Source: The Independent, Edited by Website Team
