- Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.13, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
- Takes note of the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of some of the corrective measures adopted at its 40th session, in a difficult security context in Mali, and with the lack of adequate resources at the local level, which slowed down their implementation;
- Notes that despite the inadequate financial and logistical resources available to the Cultural Mission of Djenné, resources have been allocated to the finalization of the Conservation and Management Plan by the end of 2017, and that measures are ongoing for awareness raising with the fight against illicit traffic;
- Also expresses its concern with the appearance of further deterioration in the old urban fabric of the property after the flooding caused by the torrential rains in August 2016, which led to the collapse of certain monumental houses, including the old Moroccan Palace dating back to the 16th century; and about the risks of degradation and looting of the archaeological sites;
- Encourages the State Party to seek a request for International Assistance from the World Heritage Fund in order to implement priority actions for the rehabilitation of these damaged monumental houses;
- Notes with appreciation the Aga Khan Trust for Culture's support for the sustainable riverbank conservation measures;
- Expresses its concern with the fragility of the security situation in Djenné, which prevented the organization of the requested joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission and reiterates its request to the State Party to invite, when the security situation will be stabilized in Mali, this joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to assess the overall state of conservation of the property and the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures;
- Also notes that international support for the buildings has focused mainly on Timbuktu, and calls upon the international community to support the State Party, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, by all possible means, for the conservation and protection of the property, in particular in the implementation of the Action Plan for the second phase of the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage of Mali;
- Requests the State Party to update and finalize the list of corrective measures, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM, with an updated implementation calendar, and a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and to submit them to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2018 for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, 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 42nd session in 2018;
- Decides to retain Old Towns of Djenné (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Decision 41 COM 7A.28
Old Towns of Djenné (Mali) (C 116rev)
The World Heritage Committee,
Decision Code
41 COM 7A.28
Themes
States Parties 1
Properties 1
Year
2017
State of conservation reports
2017 Old Towns of Djenné
Documents
WHC/17/41.COM/18
Decisions adopted during the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee (Krakow, 2017)