Chapter 18. Turning destruction into an opportunity: understanding the construction of Timbuktu’s ‘success story’ by UNESCO

Résumé En

The destruction of UNESCO World Heritage sites between 2012 and 2015 increased the attention of the international community substantially, as many sites were targeted by terrorist groups in Timbuktu (Mali), Hatra (Iraq), and Palmyra (Syria). A decade after the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban, Dario Gamboni’s idea that “the notion of World Heritage, intended as a shield, may instead act as a target”, was confirmed. In (probably unintentional) contrast, Irina Bokova, then Director General of UNESCO, framed heritage destruction as an act of “cultural cleansing” and its rehabilitation in the case of Timbuktu as a “success story” contributing to the fight against violent extremism. This framing allowed UNESCO, as a specialised agency marginalised in the UN system, to reposition itself by being acknowledged as an operational actor, acting on the ground through “strategic partnerships” with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Security Council.