Decision 45 COM 7A.24

Tomb of Askia (Mali) (C 1139)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.3 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Expresses its satisfaction that the "Project for the Rehabilitation of the Tomb of Askia", financed by the International Alliance for Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), has enabled a significant dynamic mobilization by the State Party and the local community for the effective conservation, management and promotion of the property through a series of measures on the property and its buffer zone, and strongly encourages the State Party to continue in this direction, while ensuring an acceleration of the implementation of the project to overcome the administrative delays encountered;
4. Also appreciates the establishment of a National Blue Shield Committee and for having succeeded in mobilizing additional funds for the documentation and development of the historic graves of the Necropolis from the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), and reiterates its request to the State Party to coordinate with the different partners and donors the projects developed for the mobilization of funds, in order to ensure greater coherence between the actions and to foresee the establishment of a system of consultation between these partners for an effective follow-up;
5. Thanks the State Party for having informed it of its decision to abandon the project to develop car parks in front of the main gate of the property and behind the asphalt road;
6. Notes with appreciation the plans to improve the visibility of the property by reducing the height of the enclosing wall;
7. Welcomes the efforts made also in the buffer zone, notably for a project to build low walls to fence off the buffer zone, invites however the State Party to submit more details, notably concerning signage and monitoring of urban planning standards to be applied, to the World Heritage Centre in order to better understand the contribution of the project to the preservation of the site;
8. Notes that the management and conservation plan of the property expired in 2022 and requests the State Party to submit the updated draft management plan to the World Heritage Centre for examination by the Advisory Bodies;
9. Notes with satisfaction that the 10 corrective measures are now all being implemented but urges the State Party to ensure the durability of the technical and financial means for the sustainable conservation and management of the property;
10. Expresses its appreciation that a capacity building and remote and field assistance programme, supported by the World Heritage Fund, for the development of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) for all three Malian properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, is currently being finalized;
11. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
12. Decides to continue the application of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property;
13. Decides to retain Tomb of Askia (Mali) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.