Decision 44 COM 7B.11

Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) (C 144)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7B.50, adopted at the 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Commends the State Party on the continuing effort to implement conservation works and formulate the management system since 2014, following the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
4. Welcomes the State Party’s decision to review the Integrated Management Plan (IMP) (2016-2019) and to consider a longer period for the implementation timeframe, and requests the State Party to provide an updated work-plan for the review of the IMP, its submission to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and its implementation;
5. Also requests the State Party to consider addressing and integrating the following aspects in the process of reviewing the IMP, namely:
   1. An overview of all other outstanding Committee requests expressed in its past Decisions on this property and a work plan to address these issues,
   2. Unimplemented targets and activities of the current IMP, notably the effort to enhance the governance of the property so as to better engage communities, stakeholders and partners in implementation processes,
   3. Proposals for further conservation works at the Gereza Fort, Malindi Seafront, Husuni Kubwa, and Makutani,
   4. How the boundaries might be extended to cover Sanje ya Kati Island and Kilwa Kivinje, and how an appropriate buffer zone for the property might be defined;
6. Noting the intention of the State Party to enhance tourism development in Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, further requests that these projects be submitted for review together with appropriate and detailed archaeological documentation and Heritage Impact Assessments before the projects are authorized or before any decision is made that would be difficult to reverse;
7. Encourages the State Party to inform the Committee through the World Heritage Centre of any major conservation or development project which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session.