Old Towns of Djenné

• No management and conservation plan
• Pressure from urban development
• Deterioration of dwellings
• Waste disposal problems
• Encroachment of the archaeological sites
• Instable security situation

• Serious deterioration of materials in the historic town and continued decay at the archaeological sites
• Inappropriate interventions
• Erosion of the architectural coherence of the town
• Lack of enforcement and implementation of regulatory and planning tools
  

In progress

Adopted, see page  http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6678   

In progress

Total amount granted: USD 110,000 (Italian Funds-in-Trust); USD 23,100 (Croisi Europe); USD 86,900 (European Commission); USD 53,000 (Netherlands Funds-in-Trust); USD 71,090 (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation)

On 31January 2018, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/116/documents/, providing the following information:

• A new 2018-2020 Management and Conservation Plan was developed in close cooperation with the local community;
• A Management Committee was created and ensures regular consultation of the Counsellors of the districts;
• Awareness-raising activities to combat looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property have been carried out in the communities and in schools;
• Other awareness-raising activities for the conservation of the property, such as regular radio broadcast messages or community meetings, are implemented;
• An interpretation plan for the property has been prepared, including tourist information (orientation panels and information). Informative signposting at the Djenné-Djeno site has been updated and panels forbidding the use of archaeological sites, for example, for making bricks and excavations, have been installed;
• The degradation and looting of the archaeological sites has decreased thanks to the effective involvement of the communities;
• Several dilapidated houses have been restored or are in the process of restoration;
• A request for International Assistance, approved in 2018, will enable rehabilitation work of monumental houses and the Moroccan Palace, partially collapsed due to torrential rains in August 2016;
• With support from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), a system for the evacuation of rainwater has been installed, and 200 metres of river banks have been developed;
• Mechanisms to combat erosion caused by rainwater have been strengthened at the level of the mini-dams and stone barriers with piles of clay-filled sacks;
• The boundaries and the buffer zones of the archaeological sites of Djenné-Djano, Hambarketolo and Kaniana have been redefined and indicated; missing bollards have been installed throughout the property, except Tonomba;
• An architectural diagnostic and solar electrification project of the Grand Mosque of Djenné is ongoing, with support of the Spanish Developing Cooperation Agency (AECID).

The State Party highlights certain threats that weigh on the property, in particular:

• Water erosion;
• Clandestine excavations and encroachment of the archaeological sites;
• Transformation of the buildings and increased use of modern materials;
• Inscriptions on walls of the houses by adolescents;
• Implantation of metal kiosks and publicity posters.

Due to security concerns, the reactive monitoring mission was not organized. However, in April 2017, a cultural heritage expert was assigned by UNESCO to carry out a field mission to assess the state of conservation of the property (the mission report is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/116/documents/).

The efforts undertaken by the State Party and the progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures are warmly welcomed. Indeed, at least 10 corrective measures of the 20 are being implemented (against 5 in 2017), with particular appreciation for the development of the new 2018-2020 Management and Conservation Plan and the creation of a Management Committee.

The different interventions carried out at the property are to be congratulated, all the more so as the security situation remains very fragile. In this context, the progress achieved is appreciated, in particular the restoration work of the dilapidated houses, measures to combat water erosion and the development of a section of the river banks, and also the installation of visible bollards marking the boundaries of the property. In addition, enhancement and awareness-raising measures of the property enable the local community to better appreciate the heritage of the city and to increase mobilization for conservation and management efforts.  Thus, the Grand Mosque project, funded by Spain, will enable the provision of a new solar electricity plan for the building, including new public lighting surrounding the building, which will provide increased visual value.

Notwithstanding this progress, several areas of concern remain. Thus, threats continue to weigh on the earthen architecture and the number of dilapidated houses is still very high, despite ongoing restoration work.  As already noted in 2014, it appears that the problems, such as the use of materials like clay-baked bricks and cement, brilliant paintwork on the door and window surrounds as well as the elimination of some decorative elements like the “sarafales” are not yet resolved. Therefore, it is advocated that the Committee recommend that the State Party accelerate the definition of conservation and maintenance regulations for the buildings of the historic Town (corrective measure), including urban standards for the reconstruction of dilapidated houses.

It is also recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party, through the Cultural Mission of Djenné, in addition to the signposting measures, to pursue awareness-raising and information efforts of the local population to slow down degradation in the ancient urban fabric and lessen the negative impacts on the buildings, but also to reduce encroachment of the archaeological sites.

It is also recommended that in response to the extremely difficult conditions prevailing at the site and the comparative isolation of the staff, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies explore the possibility of setting up a short-term distance support programme in order to allow dialogue on capacity-building and the drafting of the Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR).

Finally, whilst acknowledging the funds obtained from Spain and UNESCO in the framework of International Assistance, it is essential that financial means and the capacity of the Cultural Mission of Djenné be increased for the implementation of the Management Plan and future activities. It is also recommended that the Committee renew its appeal to the international community to contribute to the implementation of the second phase of the Action Plan for the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage and the safeguarding of the ancient manuscripts of Mali (2017-2020).

In view of all these concerns, it is recommended that the Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.