Breaking News: Tanzania’s Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara removed from UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger

Tanzanian delegation attending the UNESCO Meeting in Doha, Qatar. From left is Director of Antiquities Mr. Donatius Kamamba; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Ms. Kibenga Tarishi, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Mahmoud Mgimwa and representative of Tanzania in the commission of UNESCO Professor Mohammed Sheya.
Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Mahmoud Mgimwa congratulated by one of the participants of the UNESCO Meeting in Doha, Qatar following the removal of the Tanzania’s Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara from UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. Looking on is the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Ms. Kibenga Tarishi (middle) and Director of Antiquities Mr. Donatius Kamamba.

The World Heritage Committee meeting in Doha (Qatar) has found that management and safeguarding of the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara in the United Republic of Tanzania have improved to the point where the site can be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Located on two islands close to each other just off the Tanzanian coast about 300km south of Dar es Salaam, Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara were Swahili trading cities. Their prosperity was based on control of Indian Ocean trade with Arabia, India and China, particularly between the 13th and 16th centuries, when gold and ivory from the hinterland was traded for silver, carnelians, perfumes, Persian faience and Chinese porcelain.
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004, because of deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribed.
The 38th session of the World Heritage Committee began on 15 June and will continue through to 25 June, under the Chair of Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara are the remains of two great East African ports admired by early European explorers and are situated on two small islands near the coast. From the 13th to the 16th century, the merchants of Kilwa dealt in gold, silver, pearls, perfumes, Arabian crockery, Persian earthenware and Chinese porcelain; much of the trade in the Indian Ocean thus passed through their hands.
Issued by the Spokesperson
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
17th June, 2014


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