Emergency actions in Mali
Minaret of the Djingarey Ber Mosque seen from the Northern entrance, Timbuctu, Mali, 2003 ©T. Joffroy /CRATerre-EAG
February 2014
- First mission to Gao since end of military occupation of northern Mali takes stock of serious damage to the city’s cultural heritage, UNESCO, 13 February 2014
October 2013
- UNESCO approves emergency funds for inventory of Mali’s intangible heritage, UNESCO, 28 October 2013
- UNESCO provides cultural heritage training to UN personnel in Mali, UNESCO, 14 October 2013
July 2013
- UNESCO continues to mobilize for Mali, UNESCOPRESS, 17 July 2013
June 2013
- Damage to Timbuktu’s cultural heritage worse than first estimated reports UNESCO mission, UNESCOPRESS, 7 June 2013
- UNESCO expert mission evaluates damage to Mali’s cultural heritage, UNESCO, 7 June 2013
- Mali: Timbuktu’s cultural heritage more damaged than first estimated, UN agency says, UN News Centre, 7 June 2013
May 2013
- UNESCO's participation in the donor conference for Mali, EurActiv, 15 May 2013
April 2013
- West Africa takes action to fight against the loss of Malian heritage, Bamako, Mali, 8-10 April 2013
February 2013
- International experts and decision makers gathered at UNESCO adopt Action Plan for Mali's cultural heritage and manuscripts, UNESCO Headquarters, 19 February 2013
- UNESCO convenes international experts meeting for the safeguarding of Malian cultural heritage, UNESCO Headquarters, 18 February 2013
- INTERPOL to support global action plan for rehabilitation of Mali’s cultural sites, press release, 18 February 2013
- UNESCO has developed cultural heritage maps and a “Heritage Passport” to help protect Mali’s cultural heritage, 4 February 2013
- Director-General visits Mali with French President François Hollande, press release, 3 February 2013
- UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in Mali to spearhead UNESCO’s commitment to safeguard and rebuild Mali’s extraordinary cultural heritage, press release, 2 February 2013
January 2013
- Timbuktu’s documentary treasures, press release, 31 January 2013
- UNESCO determined to help Mali restore and rebuild its cultural heritage, press release, 31 January 2013
- The Director-General of UNESCO urges military forces to protect cultural sites in Mali during air raids and ground interventions, press release, 14 January 2013
December 2012
- UNESCO Director-General deplores new destruction of Timbuktu mausoleums, press release, 25 December 2012
- UNESCO Director-General and the President of Mauritania call for the protection of cultural heritage in Mali, press release, 11 December 2012
June and July 2012
- Creation of a special account fpr the safeguarding of world heritage in Mali, press release, 24 July 2012
- The World Heritage Committee appeals for an ending of the destructions on the heritage of Mali and adopts a decision in order to protect this heritage, press release, 3 July 2012
- UNESCO Director-General appeals for an ending of the destructions on the cultural heritage of Timbuktu, press release, 30 June 2012
- World Heritage sites inscribed on the Lilst of World Heritage in Danger, press release, 28 June 2012
May 2012: emergency mission
A UNESCO emergency mission took place from 18 to 20 May 2012, composed of the Assistant Director-General, the Director of the World Heritage Centre and the Head of the Africa Unit of the World Heritage Centre in Mali. The objective of this mission was to hold discussions with the authorities in Mali in order to seek ways and means to save the world heritage of this country.
April and May 2012: alerts and international appeals
In view of the serious threats to the Malian cultural heritage, the Director-General has alerted the international community.
- UNESCO partners in the fight against illicit traffic of cultural property and the neighbouring countries of Mali were also mobilized in order to avoid as much as possible the thefts and illicit export of Malian cultural property.
- The Director-General also drew the attention of the President of the African Union Commission on the state of Malian cultural heritage and in particular the World Heritage sites in Timbuktu and Gao. The same approach was undertaken with the President of the Economic Community of West African States.
- Irina Bokova concerned about growing threats to cultural heritage in Mali, press release, 9 May 2012
- UNESCO Director-General appeals for concerted action to prevent loss or destruction of Timbuktu’s documentary heritage, press release, 15 April 2012
- Director-General of UNESCO urges respect for the preservation of World Heritage site of Timbuktu (Mali), press release, 3 April 2012