Contested Meanings: Timbuktu and the prosecution of destruction of cultural heritage as war crimes

The prosecution of the destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime in Timbuktu, following the 2012 attacks, revealed divergent conceptions and approaches to cultural heritage among international bodies, the Malian state, and local communities. The International Criminal Court (ICC) prioritized these crimes over others due to expediency and shared interests, leading to a focus on cultural heritage destruction in Northern Mali. This study highlights the complexities and discrepancies in how different stakeholders value and protect cultural heritage, shedding light on the challenges of international legal frameworks in addressing such crimes.

Ba, O. (2020). Contested Meanings: Timbuktu and the prosecution of destruction of cultural heritage as war crimes. African Studies Review, 63(4), 743–762. https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2020.16