Following President Kais Saied’s recent criticism of sub-Saharan migrants, the World Bank has suspended discussions about its future engagement with Tunisia.
Mr Saied’s remarks, according to the bank’s outgoing CEO, David Malpass, sparked racial harassment and even violence in Tunisia.
He described the situation as grave, but added that recent steps taken by the Tunisian government to assist migrants were encouraging.
President Saied condemned racism on Sunday, despite saying last month that African immigrants were part of a plot to change Tunisia’s demographic profile.
