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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) added six historic Comorian medinas to its World Heritage List on Saturday during its annual committee meeting in Busan, South Korea.
The decision marks the first time the Indian Ocean archipelago has secured places on the global preservation roster.
Dating as far back as the 12th century, these living urban centres—located across the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan—feature ancient palaces, historic mosques, public squares, and traditional carved-door homes that reflect centuries of maritime trade linking East Africa, the Middle East, and Madagascar.
Comorian officials celebrated the designation as a major milestone for national identity and heritage protection.
Culture Minister Said Mohamed Ali Said emphasised that while the ancient medinas continue to host daily prayers, local commerce, and community life, uncontrolled urban expansion and modernisation severely threaten their structural integrity.
Authorities expect the World Heritage status to attract international conservation funding, bolster cultural tourism, and enforce strict preservation standards to protect the fragile Swahili architecture from further decay.
