The World Bank halted financing intended to develop tourism in southern Tanzania following allegations of killings, rape, and forced evictions.

The World Bank has suspended its funding of a $150m ($120m) tourism project in southern Tanzania following allegations of killings, rape and forced evictions.

The bank began investigating last year after it was accused of enabling abuses around Ruaha National Park, which was reportedly meant to double in size as part of the World Bank-supported project.

On Tuesday, the World Bank said it was “deeply concerned” about the allegations.

“The World Bank is deeply concerned about the allegations of abuse and injustice related to the Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project in Tanzania,” a spokesperson said.

“We have recently received information that suggests breaches of our policies in the implementation of the Regrow project. We have therefore decided to suspend further disbursement of funds with immediate effect.”

The Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project was launched in 2017 in an effort to improve the “management of natural resources and tourism assets” in southern Tanzania, including in a number of national parks, the bank said.

Tanzania was due to receive a further $50m, having already received $100m of the funding. Developments include building roads, viewing areas and visitor centres, and investing in wildlife monitoring and increased security.

Work to expand the boundaries of the Ruaha National Park, a 12,950-sq-km (5,000-sq-mile) conservation area that is home to lions and other wild animals, has been under heavy scrutiny.

For over a year, the US-based think tank Oakland Institute has reported alleged abuses linked to development which, while being funded by the bank, has been carried out by the Tanzanian authorities.

The Oakland Institute said last September that its research team had interviewed several villagers who alleged they were raped by Tanzanian rangers funded by Regrow.

The think tank, in its publication, also pointed to reports from a Tanzanian lawmaker and a community organisation that rangers had allegedly killed villagers.

The Oakland Institute on Tuesday welcomed the World Bank’s “long overdue” decision, which came a year after the bank was first informed of potential violations of its own policies on safeguarding in April 2023.

Anuradha Mittal, Oakland Institute’s executive director, said the decision was a “crucial step towards accountability and justice”.

He added: “It sends a resounding message to the Tanzanian government that there are consequences for its rampant rights abuses taking place across the country to boost tourism. The days of impunity are finally coming to an end.”

The Oakland Institute said that despite the World Bank announcing an investigation, the Tanzanian government moved forward in October with plans to redraw the boundaries of the national park, which would result in 21,000 people facing eviction.

The institute said their research shows other abuses have also continued, including the killing of a 21-year-old cattle herder in October and the seizure and sale of thousands of cattle this year.

The think tank said villagers who had been “victims of gross human rights violations” should now receive “adequate” and “prompt” reparations. It also said the World Bank must prevent the forced evictions of other villagers.

The World Bank said it had “robust policies” in place to prevent any potential “harmful impacts” and that it would “continue to work with the authorities and the local communities to ensure all Bank-supported projects protect and improve the lives of Tanzanians”.