Rebuilding of Timbuktu’s World Heritage Mausoleums Underway
Malian masons started reconstructing the mausoleums in Timbuktu, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. A group of 14 mausoleums were destroyed by a group of armed rebels before a French intervention in the area.
The Djingareyber Mosque, the largest mosque at the World Heritage site, received a new façade and will be under maintenance for a month. Malian architects and technicians are planning and executing tasks related to reconstructing the mausoleums to return them to their former state and repairing damage done by the rebels.
Timbuktu’s mausoleums hold many ancient artifacts, including a collection of monuments and manuscripts. According to UNESCO, around 4,200 manuscripts, some of which date back to the pre-Islamic era, were destroyed when extremist militants seized control of the city.
“The rehabilitation of the cultural heritage of Timbuktu is crucial for the people of Mali, for the city’s residents and for the world,” said Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova.
“The name of Timbuktu sparks the imagination of millions of people in all parts of the planet and it is a happy day for us at UNESCO when we see the support we have helped mobilize for the people and culture of this part of the world crowned with success.”
Timbuktu is a city located in the Western African nation of Mali. It flourished in the 12th century as a settlement trading salt, gold, ivory, and slaves. It was the city’s Golden Age, and it was home to many Islamic scholars and intellectuals. In early 2013, the Malian government and the French took back control of the city from jihadist rebels, and the Malian government began rebuilding and repairing damaged areas.
Timbuktu holds many historically important manuscripts numbering up to 700,000, most of which are kept in several of the city’s libraries. In 1988, the World Heritage Committee selected parts of Timbuktu for inscription in its list of World Heritage sites. The city has been known for its cultural significance and intriguing history.
