Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons)

• Insufficient site management means
• Illicit trafficking of cultural property
• Instable security situation

On 29 November 2017, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/516/documents/, providing the following information:

• In some villages, the Cultural Mission of Bandiagara has established a Surveillance Brigade responsible for the protection of the sites and cultural properties. The Dogon Initiative Association (ADI) has set up a surveillance mechanism for the Toloy site. Furthermore, a legal procedure is still ongoing for this same site, which was vandalized;
• The local communities are involved in information, awareness-raising, conservation and promotion activities for cultural heritage. Thus, restoration work on the Gin’na (large Dogon family houses) in the villages of Nando, Youga Dogourou and Pélou have been carried out with important participation of the communities;
• The State Party ensures the development of international cooperation as regards the combat against the illicit trade of cultural property. Various initiatives, in particular a capacity building workshop in partnership with UNESCO, have been undertaken to strengthen the fight against looting and trafficking of cultural property;
• The Management and Conservation Plan has been updated, through a consultative procedure with the local communities, covering a five-year period (2018-2022);
• The site and the infrastructures, victim of acts of vandalism, looting and climate change effects, require more regular maintenance work. Conflict in the region has provoked important damage, difficult to repair by the local populations. The progress of religious fundamentalism in central Mali and in particular towards the Land of the Dogon, notably causes an erosion of cultural identity. Although the local populations resist this progress, preserving their ancestral traditions and values, pressure is strong. Furthermore, the Cultural Mission of Bandiagara envisages involving the religious leaders in the preservation of the heritage.
• The State Party also states its concern regarding the difficulties linked to the functioning and maintenance of the cultural and tourist infrastructures.

Despite the persistent problems regarding the security situation, the actions carried out by the State Party, through the Cultural Mission of Bandiagara, has notably enabled the updating of the 2018-2022 Management and Conservation Plan, which benefited from a broad consultation with the local communities. It is recommended that the Committee congratulate the State Party for the work achieved, that formalizes the framework of crucial involvement of communities in the conservation of the property and the different elements of its heritage. In this context, community initiatives such as those of ADI and the creation of village committees are to be applauded, because they have enabled the conduct of restoration work in several villages (restoration of Gin’na and Toguna). Moreover, these committees are key bodies in the conduct of information and awareness-raising campaigns. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the continuance and strengthening of these campaigns by and with the communities, in particular by involving young people.

Efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property should also be welcomed. Therefore, at the level of communities, the holding of a capacity building workshop in November 2017 is appreciated, but it is important to support the implementation of the recommendations of this workshop and maintain the mobilization of all the stakeholders involved. Also, the pursuit of the measures to sanction those responsible for the acts of vandalism and illicit trafficking, such as the opening of legal investigations to this end should be pursued.

At the international level, the conclusion of partnership agreements, like that between Mali and the United States of America concerning the restriction of the importation of archaeological material from the Niger Valley and the Cliff of Bandiagara, are important initiatives and deserve to be multiplied, notably with neighbouring countries. The State Party should be further encouraged to initiate such agreements, and it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its appeal to the States Parties to support Mali in its combat against illicit trade in the framework of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970). It is also appropriate to renew the appeal to the international community to encourage contributions towards the implementation of the second phase of the Rehabilitation Programme of cultural property and safeguarding the ancient manuscripts of Mali.

The report rightly recalls the impact of the crisis on the property at several levels and the fact that the effects observed and experienced are mutually dependent, namely the impact on the tourist economy and its infrastructures, the degradation of the flagship sites and monuments, the increase in looting, vandalism and illicit trafficking of cultural property, and the erosion of cultural identity linked to the progress of radical Islamists. It is why it is essential to strengthen all actions in this respect covering all forms of heritage, coordinating these actions with assistance from the concerned UNESCO Cultural Conventions (1954, 1970, 1972 and 2003).

Finally, it is recommended that in response to the extremely difficult conditions prevailing at the property and the isolation of the staff, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies examine the possibility of establishing a short-term distance support programme to enable dialogue on capacity building and the strengthening of the sustainable management of the property.