Revitalization of the Religious Sites of Tombouctou (Mosques and Mausoleums Listed as UNESCO World Heritage) Post Terrorism and Covid Crisis

Abstract

The historic city of Timbuktu is one of those mythical places in the world surrounded by stories, tales, and secular legends. Nicknamed “the city of 333 saints or the pearl of the desert”, Timbuktu has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 as a cultural property.

High place of Islam and formerly, intellectual center of Islam, this city which contributed to the diffusion of Islamic culture in sub-Saharan Africa in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, had everything of a flourishing city, endowed with a university welcoming up to 25,000 students in its 180 Koranic schools.

Invaded by rebel and terrorist groups in April 2012, Timbuktu was freed from the Islamist occupiers following the intervention of international forces led by France (Operation Serval) in March 2013, at the request of the Malian government. Following an unprecedented mobilization of the international community under the aegis of UNESCO, some destroyed properties have been rebuilt or rehabilitated. Much has been done to save the heritage of Timbuktu but other actions must be programmed, particularly in heritage management and sustainable development. Among these we can cite: The socioeconomic, cultural and security issues facing Sahel countries such as Mali; Good governance, Strong stakeholder involvement (public power, heritage managers, and local communities); Taking into account the major issues related to sustainable development; The role of women and youth in the heritage development process …

Covid 19 reached its peak in 2020 in the holy city of Timbuktu with several positive cases which strongly impacted religious sites, the arts, crafts and culture sector.

Faced with this situation, it is imperative to draw the attention of public authorities, heritage managers, and populations to the revitalization of properties affected by these multiple crises in Mali.