Tanzania Denies Human Rights Abuse Allegations as World Bank Halts Funds

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — The Tanzanian government has strongly refuted allegations of human rights violations linked to the expansion of Ruaha National Park in the southern part of the country. This denial comes in the wake of the World Bank's decision to suspend its funding for a significant tourism project amid concerns over these allegations.

Government spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi addressed the issue during an interview with state broadcaster TBC, asserting the government's stance.

“The Tanzanian government does not violate human rights when implementing all its projects, including this one being funded by the World Bank,” Matinyi stated, responding to the suspension of the World Bank's $150 million tourism project known as Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow).

The project, initiated in 2017, aims to enhance the management of natural resources and tourism assets in the region.

Despite the government's assurances, reports from civil society organizations have painted a troubling picture of the situation on the ground, alleging that the expansion has led to severe abuses, including forced evictions, rapes by park rangers, and even killings.

Matinyi also noted in a local newspaper that the World Bank had already disbursed $125 million of its funding for the project before these issues led to a reevaluation of their involvement.

The controversy intensified after the Oakland Institute, an American think-tank, last year highlighted multiple incidents of violence and displacement related to the park's expansion, based on accounts from a Tanzanian MP and local community organizations.

These allegations and the subsequent funding suspension have sparked a significant debate about the balance between conservation efforts and the rights of local communities in Tanzania, raising questions about the oversight and implementation of international funding for such projects.

The Tanzanian government's denial aims to reassure stakeholders, but ongoing reports from local and international groups continue to challenge the official narrative, indicating a complex situation that remains unresolved.