Decision 46 COM 7A.13

Tomb of Askia (Mali) (C 1139)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/46.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.24 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Congratulates the State Party on the operational launch, in March 2024, of the project to rehabilitate the Tomb of Askia and thanks the International alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas (ALIPH) for providing funding for activities that take into account all the corrective measures;
4. Expresses its concern, however, about the cumulative delays since the initial launch of this project in January 2020, particularly with regard to capacities for managing and implementing large-scale projects, and requests that the State Party submit an updated work plan for this project to the World Heritage Centre, as well as detailed documentation for each stage of the project, in order to establish archives of the work to be carried out;
5. Takes note of the various interventions in progress or planned; notably removal of the remaining eucalyptus poles on the east wall of the men’s mosque, the presence of bats in the men’s mosque and work to spread fine sand in the prayer area to counter water erosion;
6. Notes with satisfaction the efforts made by the State Party to resolve the problem of illegal dwellings occupying the buffer zone of the property – by means of awareness-raising actions aimed at the population concerned – and requests that the State Party provide further information, in its next report, on the effectiveness of these actions and other mitigation measures taken or proposed in this regard;
7. Expresses its satisfaction at the strengthened attachment of the local communities to their cultural heritage and the importance given to the involvement of all stakeholders in the rehabilitation project, thanks the State party, in particular through the Cultural Mission for its community engagement and awareness-raising efforts, including the celebrations of African World Heritage Day on 5 May 2023, and requests that the State Party provide the World Heritage Centre with the Communication Plan, developed in 2022, so that these efforts can be assessed more effectively;
8. Welcomes the submission by the State Party of an international assistance request for updating of the Conservation and Management Plan for the property, following the expiry of the previous plan in 2022, and requests that the State Party submit the draft updated Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
9. Expresses its appreciation of the progress made in developing the Desired State of Conservation for Removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and requests that it be submitted for adoption at its next session in 2025;
10. Requests in this regard that the State Party also develop a costed action plan to support, in particular, the mobilization of technical and financial partners for implementation of the corrective measures necessary to achieve DSOCR;
11. Considering that insecurity continues to be the main threat to the property, requests that the State Party provide a more in-depth and up-to-date analysis enabling it to better understand the broader context and the precise impact that insecurity actually has on the property;
12. Finally requests that, by 1 February 2025, the State Party submit an updated report to the World Heritage Centre on the state of conservation of the property and implementation of the above-mentioned points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;
13. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property;
14. Decides to keep the Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.