World Bank Pauses Tunisia Work amid Reports of Racist Violence

The World Bank has "temporarily" suspended its dealings with Tunisia, according to a note sent to staff late Sunday.

The decision comes against the backdrop of statements by the country's president, Kais Saied, regarding immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, which sparked harassment and violence with "racist" motives.

The bank postponed its board meeting, which was scheduled with Tunisia until it finished assessing the situation.

A memorandum to the bank's president, David Malpass, sent to employees on Monday, included that Saied’s speech had caused "racially motivated harassment and even violent incidents," and that the institution had postponed a scheduled meeting with Tunisia until it finished assessing the situation.

Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa returned to their countries from Tunisia, fearing a wave of violence following the president's statements.

At the end of February, Saied ordered officials to take "urgent measures" to combat irregular migration, claiming without evidence the existence of a "criminal arrangement" aimed at "changing the demographic composition" of Tunisia.

He alleged that immigrants were behind crimes in the North African country, which led to a wave of evictions from work and housing and verbal and physical attacks.