Abidjan, October 18, 2024 – The first phase of a major preservation project for Sudanese-style mosques in northern Côte d'Ivoire is set to begin this October and will be completed by December 2024. This initiative is co-financed by the U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and the Ivorian government.

According to Blanche N’Guessan, Director General of the Ivorian Office of Cultural Heritage (OIPC), the initial phase will focus on mosques in Tiéningboué, Siana, and Kani. The second phase, planned for January and February 2025, will extend to the mosques in Boron and Nafana.

The project aims to combine tradition and innovation, integrating 3D digitization techniques and engaging traditional masons who were trained during workshops organized in 2018 and 2021, in preparation for the inclusion of eight mosques on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Among the mosques already listed are those in Sorobango, Kong, Kaouara, Nambira, Tengréla, Kouto, and Samatiguila. Other Sudanese-style mosques in northern Côte d'Ivoire were excluded from the UNESCO list due to their poor state of conservation. This project seeks to address that issue, preserving these culturally significant structures for future generations.