World Bank to resume partnership with Tunisia after two-month hiatus

The World Bank announced Wednesday the resumption of its partnership with Tunisia, two months after suspending cooperation with the North African country following President Kais Saied’s remarks on Sub-Saharan African migrants deemed racist.
Tunisia and the Washington-based institution prior March were in talks for a $500 million program encompassing direct support to the hardest-hit families and guaranteed access to financing for small and medium-sized businesses.
The talks for the partnership were abruptly suspended on March 6. The World Bank in a statement said it was concerned about the situation of migrants and minorities in the North African country.
Tunisia came under scrutiny after President Saied said the country is a victim of a plot to alter its Arab identity with waves of sub Saharan migrants. The remarks stirred violence against Sub Saharan migrants in the country. Several African countries sent chartered flights to bring back their citizens willing to return home.
“Discussions on the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework with Tunisia, defining the strategic orientations of operational commitments over the medium term (2023-2027) have been temporarily suspended by WB management, against the backdrop of recent events concerning sub-Saharan migrants. Dialogue and engagement with Tunisian authorities maintained,” the bank said in a statement.
Bloomberg Wednesday indicated that the bank and the African country will resume the partnership, per a statement from the financial institution. “The government and the World Bank Group reviewed and adjusted the strategy, which would now serve as the basis for the World Bank Group to continue playing its role as a long-term partner of the country and its people”, the bank said.