THE AFRICA TIMES | SUDAN — UNESCO has added five African sites to its World Heritage List. The announcement took place during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, held from July 6 to 16.
These newly designated sites represent Cameroon, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. This is the first UNESCO World Heritage inscription for both Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.
New UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa
Cameroon: Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape, Mandara Mountains
The Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape lies within the Mandara Mountains. The site includes ancient dry-stone structures. Locals call them the “Ruins of the Chief’s Residence”. It features terraced hillsides and artisanal sites. Traditional homes, tombs, and shrines populate the area. These reflect a deep spiritual connection to the land.
Malawi: Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape
Mount Mulanje stands at over 3,000 meters. It is one of the world’s largest inselbergs. The Yao, Mang’anja, and Lhomwe communities consider the mountain sacred. They believe ancestral spirits inhabit it. The site embodies a harmonious person-nature relationship. It blends spiritual significance with ecological value.
Mozambique: Maputo National Park
Maputo National Park serves as a biodiversity corridor. It stretches from the savannah to the Indian Ocean. The park is a transboundary extension of South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park. UNESCO designated the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in 1999. Maputo National Park encompasses varied ecosystems. These include mangroves, coastal dunes, and coral reefs. It supports nearly 5,000 species and enhances regional conservation networks.
Sierra Leone: Gola-Tiwai Complex
Sierra Leone now has its first UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the Gola-Tiwai Complex. The complex includes the Gola Rainforest National Park. It also includes Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. The area rests in the Upper Guinean Forest. It is a biodiversity hotspot with over 1,000 plant species. Fifty-five mammal species and 448 bird species thrive there. Several endangered primates and large mammals also live there.
Guinea-Bissau: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago
The Bijagós Archipelago receives recognition for its dynamic deltaic landscape. Its biodiversity is exceptional. The archipelago supports vital marine and coastal ecosystems. These include mangroves and mudflats. It is a critical habitat for endangered sea turtles. Manatees and over 870,000 migratory birds depend on it.
