Cultural Heritage and Conflict in Africa

African conflicts, rooted in colonial legacies and exacerbated by Cold War dynamics, have severely impacted cultural heritage, with 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the danger list due to ongoing unrest. While international interventions, such as those in Libya and Mali, have drawn global attention—including legal action against heritage destruction—cases like Nigeria's Sukur Cultural Landscape under Boko Haram attacks remain largely unaddressed by UNESCO or other entities. The study highlights the challenges of applying the 1954 Hague Convention to internal conflicts, which dominate Africa's conflict landscape, and underscores the need for stronger mechanisms to protect vulnerable heritage sites.

Ndoro, W. (2021). Cultural Heritage and Conflict in Africa. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190854584.013.270