At its 19th session in Asunción, Paraguay, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed Xeer Ciise, the Somali-Issa oral customary law, on the list of intangible cultural heritage at the joint request of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
This historically significant legal framework unites Somali-Issa communities across these three nations under a single leader ("Ugas") based in Dire Dawa, fostering regional integration and tourism.
The inscription is expected to significantly enhance its protection and preservation, strengthening cultural ties and friendships across the Horn of Africa.
In addition to Xeer Ciise, UNESCO also recognized:
the Epic of Samba Gueladio (Mauritania);
Durbar festival in Kano (Nigeria);
Cultural practices linked to the Balafon (Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire).