Mauritania to open first 'festival of ancient cities'

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

NOUAKCHOTT - Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has announced the creation of a 3.5 million dollar

The four ancient cities are classed as world heritage sites by UNESCO

Mauritania promotes tourism as 3.5 million dollar fund seeks to develop country's ancient desert towns.

 

 

 (2.6 million euro) fund to develop the country's ancient desert towns.

Opening the first "festival of ancient cities" in northern Chinguitty on Wednesday, Aziz said government had set aside "a percentage of the state budget from customs revenue" to promote the cities he said were a symbol of Mauritania's identity.

"The primary beneficiaries of this fund will be the four ancient cities" of Chinguitty, Oudane, Tichitt and Oualata, classed as world heritage sites by UNESCO since 1996.

Between the 13th and 18th centuries these towns were key hubs for the trans-Saharan caravan trade, but they are now partially buried by sands.

 

 

	A symbol of Mauritania's identity

 

Surviving mainly off tourism, they have been hit by the threat of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), landing in the "red zone" declared by France for areas which it is highly inadvisable for foreigners to visit.

Six French tour operators who specialise in this area initially ignored the French foreign ministry's warnings, but eventually stopped all tours in January.

"We are all called to give impetus to and to popularise the cultural influence of these cities and give a good image of our country, through its role of serving moderate Islam, far from any form of extremism and terrorism," the president said.

The funds will go towards keeping people in their desert territories, making them centres of development by restoring their "cultural treasures which are the pride of Mauritanians", said organisers of the one week festival.