By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti 18 June 2026 – Djibouti was elected on Wednesday for a second term as a member of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Djiboutian Information Agency, ADI, reported.
The election took place at the end of the 11th session of the General Assembly of states that are parties to UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The 2003 convention is an international agreement intended to protect living cultural heritage, including oral traditions, music, dance, social customs, traditional knowledge and craftsmanship. It encourages countries to identify, preserve and pass such traditions to future generations while strengthening international cooperation.
Djibouti previously served on the committee between 2018 and 2022.
The committee examines nominations for inclusion on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage lists, monitors implementation of the convention and helps guide international policies on safeguarding living traditions, skills and practices.
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Djibouti’s permanent delegation to UNESCO said the new mandate would allow the country to promote its cultural initiatives more actively and participate in discussions over the possible addition of a new element of Djiboutian living heritage to UNESCO’s Representative List this year.
The delegation was led by Djibouti’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Ayeid Mousseid Yahya.
Djibouti has also joined the committee overseeing UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Yahya is expected to chair that committee’s 20th session in February 2027.
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