World Bank accused of supporting evictions, rights abuses at Tanzanian park

Farmers and herders in southern Tanzania say rangers at Ruaha National Park have committed extrajudicial killings and livestock theft in a bid to drive them off their land to make way for tourists.

The allegations form the basis of a complaint submitted to the Inspection Panel of the World Bank, which is providing financial support to Ruaha and its Tanzanian National Parks Authority (TANAPA) rangers through a $150 million grant. Last week, the U.S.-based advocacy group The Oakland Institute released a report accusing the bank of violating its internal safeguards by turning a blind eye to human rights abuses it said TANAPA has committed.