Decision 41 COM 7A.30

Tomb of the Askia (Mali) (C 1139)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7A.7, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Takes note of the efforts made by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures adopted at its 40th session in a difficult security context in northern Mali, and encourages it to pursue its efforts with the support of its partners;
4. Expresses its concern about the unstable security situation in Gao, which did not allow the joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to be organized in order to assess the general state of conservation of the property;
5. Also expresses its concern at the problems of degradation of the necropolis of the men’s mosque due to water erosion caused by heavy rains in August-September 2016, and also encourages the State Party to request international assistance from the World Heritage Fund for the rehabilitation of this necropolis;
6. Notes with satisfaction the granting of the status of Enhanced Protection to Tomb of Askia under the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of Armed Conflict, and the opportunity thus offered to strengthen synergies on the ground between the 1954 and 1972 Conventions;
7. Taking note of the decline in community participation in the conservation of the site, requests the State Party to take measures to promote the latter;
8. Calls upon the international community to support the State Party, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in all possible ways, for the conservation and protection of the property;
9. Reiterates its request to the State Party to invite, when the security situation in the northern region of Mali is stabilized, a 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;
10. Also requests the State Party to finalize, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM, the proposal for the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and a clear implementation timetable, 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;
11. Further 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;
12. Decides to continue the application of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property;
13. Also decides to retain the Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.