The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 46 COM 7A.13, adopted at its 46th session (New Delhi, 2024),
- Welcomes the State Party’s ongoing commitment to the conservation and management of the property and the mobilization of the various stakeholders in the city of Gao to implement the corrective measures adopted by the Committee in 2016, in particular as part of the Tomb rehabilitation project funded by the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH), which aims both to physically conserve the property and to improve its use by the faithful;
- Takes note of the resumption of the activities carried out under this project, which has been extended until June 2025, and reiterates its request to the State Party to provide and submit to the World Heritage Centre detailed documentation of each stage of the project in order to create an archive of the works, as well as the various reports, photographs of the works, site plans, topographical surveys and all documentation relating to the works of the rehabilitation project in consolidated form for consultation and examination by the Secretariat and the Advisory Bodies;
- Expresses its satisfaction with the broad consultation aimed at finding a consensual solution to the occupation of the buffer zone, as well as with efforts to involve all stakeholders and local communities with the support of the Management Committee and the Mali Blue Shield Committee; encourages the State Party to continue with community consultations and awareness-raising activities; and renews its request to the State Party that it submit to it the Communication Plan developed in 2022, so that it can also explore the ways in which the World Heritage Centre might further support the State Party in its implementation;
- Reiterates its concern regarding the lack of funding for the Gao Cultural Mission;
- Welcomes the fact that the process of updating the Management and Conservation Plan for the property has been launched with the support of International Assistance granted by the World Heritage Fund for the purpose, which will benefit all Malian World Heritage properties; it also welcomes the progress made in drafting the State of Conservation for the Removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and requests that it be finalized within the framework of the remaining consultations during 2025 with a view to its adoption at the 48th session;
- Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2026, 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 48th session;
- Decides to retain Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.