Royal Palaces of Abomey

• Absence of a national legislative mechanism for the protection of cultural heritage (issue resolved)
• Major deterioration of almost 50% of the earthen structural components (issue resolved)
• Lack and loss of documentation on the site (issue resolved)
• Lack of presentation and interpretation at the site
• Lack of sharing of knowledge between site managers and among authorities
• Need to distinguish between the site museum and the World Heritage site
• Lack of effective firefighting measures
• Need to improve the governance, organization and implementation of mechanisms for monitoring, coordination and involvement of the different parties concerned
• Need to revise the risk management plan as well as the plan for the management, conservation and enhancement of the property
• Need to take priority measures for the prevention of fire risks

Total amount granted: USD 450,000 from the Government of Japan and from the Riksantikvaren (Norwegian Cultural Heritage Directorate)

A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission visited the property in April 2016. Subsequently, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property on 8 December 2016 and updated information on 2 March 2017. A summary of this report and the mission report are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/323/documents. The State Party provides the following information:

• Following the fire of 14 January 2015, the ministry responsible for Culture implemented a programme of work to restore the eight huts of the Houégbadja Palace and rehabilitate the damaged parts of the Gbéhanzin Palace;
• The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has appointed an official responsible for the management of the collections and administration of the Historical Museum of Abomey and plans to appoint a person responsible for the collections and buildings;
• Non-compliant construction of private residences of the royal families took place on the property and in the buffer zone;
• The district of Dosseme is no longer occupied by the Dadassi;
• The entire property is in a state of advanced degradation due to various factors, including vandalism, fires, inclement weather, insecurity and insalubrity (termites, tall grass).

The following actions are planned for 2017:

• Additional staff for the property;
• Restoration of the roof of the Tomb of the 41 Wives of King Glèlè;
• Evaluation of the 2007-2011 Management Plan, and drafting of the new Management Plan for the property (implementation 2018);
• Improvement of the museum's facilities and collections, and the opening of an "archaeological" space and the installation of new permanent exhibitions on the property.

The Reactive Monitoring mission made it possible to collect the following additional information:

• Fire hydrant installed by the Albi project is not operational due to lack of connection to the water supply network;
• Rehabilitation of certain components of the property that does not comply with the rules and principles of heritage protection;
• Dysfunction of the bodies responsible for management;
• Existence of various cultural projects proposed by national and foreign partners.

As part of the national strategy to make Abomey one of the main tourism hubs by enhancing the heritage, the State Party informed the Centre that feasibility studies are underway for restoration works and museum projects in Abomey (Estimated cost: 123 billion CFA francs – approx. USD 204 million).

The information provided in the State Party's report reflects its efforts to address the main concerns expressed in recent Committee decisions. It is encouraging to note that the State Party has foreseen funding for the evaluation of the 2007-2011 lapsed management plan and for the development of a new management plan for the property. The completion of the management plan remains the highest priority. It is recommended that the Committee take note of the State Party's intention to revise the management plan and urges it to finalize the plan as soon as possible.

Restoration works on the parts of the property damaged by the January and December 2015 fires have been completed. However, it is regrettable that the report does not provide sufficient information on the December fire. It is also recommended that the Committee take note that the State Party has carried out the restoration work on the parts of the property damaged by the fires.

While acknowledging the progress made, the overall state of conservation of the property remains a concern. It is imperative that measures be taken to prevent degradation related to vandalism, fire, insecurity, insalubrity, and termite attacks. It is regrettable that the State Party does not provide information on the development of the risk management plan and on fire prevention measures. It is also a matter of concern that some of the rehabilitation work on the components of the property, including the construction of private residences of the royal families on the property and in the buffer zone, are not in conformity with the rules and principles of heritage conservation, safeguarding and protection.

The State Party’s decision to appoint an official with special responsibility for the management of the collections and administration of the Historical Museum of Abomey, together with a building overseer, is commendable, but the recruitment has still not been carried out.

Various tourism and cultural projects proposed by the State Party, national and foreign partners, and in particular activities undertaken in the framework of cooperation with the city of Albi, should be continued. The results of ongoing feasibility studies for the upgrading of Abomey as a tourism hub will be submitted to the Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies.

It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to develop a holistic tourism management strategy as part of the management plan.

Insofar as the various dysfunctions noted continue to be a serious threat to the property, it is recommended that the Committee acknowledge the actions carried out but that it express its concern about the general state of conservation of the property and the inadequacy of progress since the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2007, and that it encourages the State Party to implement, as soon as possible and in close collaboration with the various stakeholders, all the recommendations of the mission reports of 2012 and 2016.