Kasbah of Algiers

• Natural erosion;
• Lack of maintenance of housing;
• Loss of traditional conservation techniques;
• Uncontrolled land-use;
• Constant collapse of houses (three dead and others injured in May 2002);
• Conservation Plan existing but not operational;
• Lack of coordination activities at the property.

Referring to the decion of the 28th session of the Committee (Suzhou, 2004), the State Party sent in January 2005 to the World Heritage Centre a report on progress made in the implementation of the measures for the safegmuard of the Kasbah of Algiers.

The draft executive decree for the creation and delimitation of the protected sector of the Kasbah of Algiers will soon be published in the Journal officiel by the concerned authorities.  The conservation plan of the Kasbah of Algiers, elaborated by a National Bureau of Studies under the authority of the Wilaya, is currently being studied and harmonised by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage in regard to the legal text on the mechanisms for the establishment of a permanent conservation and presentation plan for the protected sectors. 

 In the present phase, restoration and presentation work is being carried out on listed monuments in the protected sector.  The restoration project for the Citadel of Algiers, sponsored by the President of the Algerian Republic, received substantial funding that enabled the Ministry of Culture to undertake restricted international consultation.  An expert committee, presided by the Director of Cultural Heritage, was appointed, in particular to elaborate the specifications for the launching of the restoration operation for the Citadel of Algiers.  It has also recently undertaken an important sanitation operation in the Kasbah. Other restoration and safeguarding projects have been conducted by the Wilaya of Algiers.

Within the framework of the project for assistance under the World Heritage Fund entitled “Apprentice School specialising in traditional building techniques of the Kasbah of Algiers”, three World Heritage Centre expert missions were undertaken in Algeria (October 2003, February-March and November 2004), to launch this operation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Wilaya of Algiers.  The latter has made available a building to house the future documentation and information centre foreseen in the project.

In its report, the State Party solicits the assistance of the World Heritage Centre to designate an expert to participate, together with the working group set up by the Ministry of Culture, in the examination of the conformity of the permanent conservation and presentation plan for the Kasbah of Algiers, in regard to the legislation in force.