Speaking at the Africa World Heritage Fund (AWHF) Advocacy and Partnership Event in Paris, Namibia’s Ambassador to France, Albertus !Aochamub said there is an urgent need for increased global support in safeguarding Africa’s cultural and natural heritage.

Delivering a statement on behalf of the AWHF Board, he said that Africa’s heritage is not only a continental treasure but a vital part of the world’s shared history.

“Africa is home to an extraordinary wealth of heritage, from the pyramids of Egypt to the great Sahelian mosques, from Namibia’s ancient rock art to the Swahili stone towns,” Ambassador !Auchamub stated.

“Yet, despite this richness, African sites remain underrepresented on the UNESCO World Heritage List not due to a lack of significance, but because of challenges related to technical expertise, funding, and capacity-building”

Ambassador !Aochamub expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Norway, and Korea for their financial and technical contributions towards the preservation of African heritage.

These commitments, he said are instrumental in accelerating the nomination process for African sites to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, building local expertise by empowering African scholars, archaeologists, and conservationists, and strengthening international partnerships to ensure that the responsibility of preserving Africa’s heritage is shared globally.

While acknowledging the progress made, Ambassador !Aochamub called for sustained and expanded support.

“The preservation of Africa’s heritage is an investment in our identity, our history, and the future of humanity,” he said.