The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 7B.106 and 36 COM 7B.107 , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Commends the State Party for its request for emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund to implement priority actions to strengthen protection for the Tomb of Askia property;
4. Expresses its concern with regards to the lack of maintenance of the property causing the deterioration of its architectural elements and increasing the risk of collapse of its columns, due to the closure of the management structure of the property since April 2012, which constitutes a threat to the conservation of its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
5. Also expresses its concern that the State Party has been unable to carry out a field mission, due to armed conflict in the region, and evaluate the precise state of conservation of the property and propose measures for the preservation of its OUV;
6. Thanks the Director-General of UNESCO for the efforts undertaken to respond to Decisions 36 COM 7B.106 and 36 COM 7B.107 through notably the creation of a special account for the safeguarding of Mail’s cultural heritage and awareness-raising of the international community;
7. Also thanks France, Mali and UNESCO for organizing a solidarity day for Mali during which an international expert meeting was held, which resulted in the adoption of an action plan for the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage and ancient manuscripts of Mali;
8. Further thanks the UNESCO expert group on Mali, composed of the Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the School of African Heritage (EPA), African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), and the International Centre for Earth Construction – Ecole nationale supérieure d’architecture, Grenoble CRA-Terre-ENSAG), for having contributed in the preparation of this action plan in close collaboration with Mali and French experts;
9. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to prepare all the corrective measures, as well as a Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, once a return to stability in the northern regions of Mali is effective, and following the UNESCO evaluation mission to Gao;
10. Launches an appeal to the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention , the African Union, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and to other African organizations and the international community for their contribution in the implementation of the action plan for the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage and the ancient manuscripts of Mali;
11. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, and in particular on progress achieved for the preservation of its OUV, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014;
12. Decides to retain the Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.