By DOH JAMES SONKEY
Two sites with exceptional universal values threatened by surrounding agro-industrial activities in Cameroon; the Dja wildlife reserve and Tri national of Sangha are among the 166 sites being examined at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO taking place from June 30 to July 10, 2019 at Baku in Azerbaijan Republic.
Taking the floor last July 3, 2019, the head of the Cameroonian delegation, Minister Pierre Ismail Bidoung Mkpatt of Arts and Culture rejoiced over the holding of deep reflection on the subject within the framework of African priority, sustainable development and world heritage.
The Minister reassured the international community of government’s commitment to get its two sites on the list of the world heritage of humanity and to propose other sites to be inscribed in subsequent sessions.
In the sidelines of the 43rd session, Minister Bidoung Mkpatt held a working session with the Ambassador of Burkina Faso who is Vice President of the World Heritage Committee and representative of Africa. The two personalities discussed on the renewal of membership of the committee during the upcoming General Assembly of UNESCO scheduled for November 2019.
While three members are to be admitted into the committee this year, Cameroon is already lobbying for admission in 2021.
The World Heritage Committee is comprised of representatives from 21 States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention. Current members of the committee are; Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe.