The World Bank (WB) will suspend "until further notice" its partnership framework with Tunisia, after attacks targeting migrants in the country following a speech by Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed at the end of February denouncing "hordes illegal immigrants".

According to a letter sent to its teams by the president of the WB, David Malpass, which AFP was able to consult on Monday, the institution was not in a position to continue its missions on the spot "given the situation" while "the safety and inclusion of migrants and minorities are part of the central values ​​of inclusion, respect and anti-racism" of the WB.

The decision concerns the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), which serves as a basis for monitoring by the Board of Directors (CA) of the WB in order to assess and support the country in its aid programs.

Concretely, the institution can no longer launch a new support program with the country as long as the Board has not met and it has decided to postpone this meeting on Tunisia "until further notice", according to the letter.

"Funded projects remain funded and ongoing projects remain ongoing," said a source close to the WB.

However, the WB warns of a possible slowdown in its actions on site due to the implementation of security measures, in particular for its staff from sub-Saharan Africa and their families.

"Tunisia has a long tradition of openness and tolerance which is encouraged by so many people in the country," insisted David Malpass in his letter to WB employees.

If the measures taken by the Tunisian government "to protect and support migrants and refugees in this very difficult situation" go in "good sense", the WB assures that it "will carefully assess and monitor their impact".

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed had estimated on February 21 in a speech that "urgent measures" were necessary "against the illegal immigration of nationals of sub-Saharan Africa", speaking in particular of "hordes of illegal migrants" whose arrival was a matter of a "criminal enterprise hatched at the dawn of this century to change the demographic composition of Tunisia".

These comments were strongly criticized by NGOs and human rights activists.

They have also sown a wind of panic among sub-Saharan migrants who have since reported an upsurge in attacks against them and have rushed by the dozens to their embassies to be repatriated.

>> To read also: "A climate of fear", in Tunisia, sub-Saharan migrants stigmatized and attacked

Measures in favor of sub-Saharan students and migrants

According to official figures quoted by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), Tunisia, which has some 12 million inhabitants, is home to more than 21,000 nationals from sub-Saharan African countries, most of them in an irregular situation. .

On Sunday, Tunis announced for its part "measures to improve the situation of foreigners in Tunisia and facilitate the procedures" for regularizing their situation.

The authorities have notably decided to "extend the residence certificates from three to six months", for people coming from many sub-Saharan countries, such as Côte d'Ivoire, who benefit from a three-month visa exemption on entry. in Tunisia.

It will also involve “issuing one-year residence permits to students who are nationals of brotherly African countries to facilitate their stay and allow them to periodically renew their documents”.

 Tunisia also wishes to "facilitate voluntary return operations within an organized framework and in coordination with their diplomatic missions".

These candidates for voluntary return will be "exempted" from penalties amounting to 80 dinars per month (25 euros), for some exceeding 1,000 euros.

The authorities have also promised to strengthen support and health and social assistance to migrants through the Red Crescent, while seeking to "fight against all forms of human trafficking and the exploitation of irregular migrants" in through an intensification of controls.

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app