UNESCO has inscribed five new African sites on its World Heritage List, highlighting the continent’s rich cultural landscapes and ecological treasures. The announcement was made during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris from July 6 to 16.
The newly designated sites span Cameroon, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau, with the latter two countries earning their first-ever UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions.
Cameroon: Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape, Mandara Mountains
Located in the Mandara Mountains, the Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape features ancient dry-stone structures—locally known as the “Ruins of the Chief’s Residence”—built between the 12th and 17th centuries. The area is characterized by terraced hillsides, traditional homes, tombs, shrines, and artisanal sites, all reflecting a deeply rooted spiritual and cultural connection to the land.
Malawi: Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape
Towering at over 3,000 meters, Mount Mulanje is one of the world’s largest inselbergs. The mountain and its surrounding areas are considered sacred by the Yao, Mang’anja, and Lhomwe communities, who believe it is inhabited by ancestral spirits. The site embodies a harmonious relationship between people and nature, blending spiritual significance with ecological value.
Mozambique: Maputo National Park
Maputo National Park, a biodiversity corridor that stretches from the savannah to the Indian Ocean, is a transboundary extension of South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO site since 1999. It encompasses a mosaic of ecosystems—mangroves, coastal dunes, lakes, and coral reefs—supporting nearly 5,000 species and strengthening regional conservation networks.
Sierra Leone: Gola-Tiwai Complex
Sierra Leone has secured its first UNESCO World Heritage site with the inscription of the Gola-Tiwai Complex, which includes the Gola Rainforest National Park and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Located within the Upper Guinean Forest, the area is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 1,000 plant species, 55 mammal species, 448 bird species, and several endangered primates and large mammals.
Guinea-Bissau: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago
Also a first for Guinea-Bissau, the Bijagós Archipelago has been recognized for its dynamic deltaic landscape and exceptional biodiversity. It supports vital marine and coastal ecosystems, including extensive mangroves and mudflats, and is a critical habitat for endangered sea turtles, manatees, and over 870,000 migratory birds.
