The OWHC is pleased to announce the accession of two new member cities: Djenné, Mali, and Agadez, Niger. These two iconic cities enrich our international network with their exceptional sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Located in the inner Niger Delta, Djenné is world-renowned for its remarkable earthen architecture and the historic ensemble of the Old Town of Djenné, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988. A true symbol of Sahelian architectural genius, the city is particularly notable for its famous Great Mosque, considered one of the largest earthen buildings in the world. Djenné bears witness to an ancient urban and commercial tradition that played a major role in cultural and economic exchanges in West Africa.

For its part, the city of Agadez in Niger is home to the Historic Center of Agadez, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. A former caravan city in the heart of the Sahara, Agadez developed as an important crossroads for trans-Saharan trade and a major center of Tuareg culture. Its earthen urban fabric, dominated by the imposing minaret of the Great Mosque of Agadez—the tallest adobe minaret in the world—illustrates the remarkable adaptation of architecture to the climatic and cultural conditions of the desert.

The inscription of these sites on the World Heritage List recognizes their Outstanding Universal Value, particularly for their unique testimony to the cultural traditions, historical exchanges, and forms of urbanism specific to Sahelian civilizations.

By joining the OWHC, Djenné and Agadez are committing to actively participate in sharing experiences, good practices, and knowledge with other member cities in the network. Their presence strengthens the cultural and geographic diversity of our organization.

Let us warmly welcome Djenné and Agadez to our international network dedicated to the protection and enhancement of World Heritage cities!