“This new act of destruction marks an escalation of violence and testifies of the deliberate will to erase symbols of a tolerant and open Islam, deeply enshrined in this region of Sahel. This is an inacceptable attack against the cultural and spiritual identity of the people”, the Director-General said. “I condemn all such attacks against culture and call for a renewed commitment by all to respect and mutual understanding” she added.

The present statement by the Director-General comes in the wake of earlier condemnations of the destruction of heritage properties in Mali, both by the Director-General and by the World Heritage Committee.