Decision 45 COM 7B.120

Sudanese style mosques in northern Côte d’Ivoire (Côte d’Ivoire) (C 1648)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having considered document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 8B.33 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken and resources provided by the State Party to address the eight recommendations made by the Committee at the time of inscription, in particular the urgent work undertaken to stabilise mosques and reverse inappropriate interventions, the appointment of a property manager, the staffing of the management body, a training course for masons and a consultation process with local communities for the enlargement of property boundaries and buffer zones;
4. Also welcomes the national priority given to the conservation and sustainable development of the eight mosques and the longer-term aim to establish a guild of traditional masons to facilitate and perpetuate the transmission of traditional Sudanese building practices;
5. Notes the Action Plan 2023-2025 that has been developed to provide the framework for activities needed to reverse the decline of traditional conservation practices, strengthen protection, foster traditional practices and promote sustainable development, and also notes that the resources to deliver this Plan will be provided mainly by the State Party and partly by International Assistance, if approved;
6. Further notes the State Party’s acknowledgement that much more needs to be done to address the Committee’s requests and urges the State Party to maintain the necessary momentum to ensure the Action Plan can be delivered on time;
7. Considers that the sustainable functioning of the management systems and the development of Conservation Plans for the property and for each component mosque need to be given high priority for available funding;
8. Requests the State Party to submit the revised Management Plan or other management tools to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
9. Notes with concern the impact of severe weather on three mosques and requests the State Party to develop weather monitoring indicators for all component sites and also a Risk Preparedness Strategy for such extreme events;
10. Invites the international community to consider providing further necessary support for the efficient implementation of the Committee’s recommendations and to strengthen the sustainable development of the property;
11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, 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 47th session.