Restoration of Timbuktu's historic tombs of Islamic saints to finish this month

THE ART NEWSPAPER
Timbuktu's historic mausoleums are due to be restored by the end of July © OUR PLACE The World Heritage Collection
A project to restore 14 historic mausoleums destroyed in Timbuktu three years ago by hardline Islamists is due to finish at the end of July. Extremist groups targeted the tombs of Muslim saints as well as the city’s vast libraries when rebels occupied northern Mali following a military coup in March 2012. Located at the crossroads of several Trans-Saharan trade routes, Timbuktu grew to become a major centre of Koranic culture in the 15th century. Known as “the city of 333 saints”, it has 16 mausoleums inscribed on Unesco’s World Heritage List.