WASHINGTON, December 22, 2010--The World Bank today released the following statement on Côte d'Ivoire:
We can confirm that the World Bank has currently stopped lending and disbursing funds to the Ivory Coast.
The World Bank's office in the Ivory Coast has been closed.
The World Bank and the African Development Bank have supported ECOWAS and the African Union in sending the message to President Gbagbo that he lost the elections and he needs to step down.
A peaceful and rapid resolution is critical both for the people of Côte d’Ivoire and the region as a whole.
