It is with deep sadness that we have heard of the passing of Ms. Sémia Akrout Yaiche. She was passionate about heritage, not only involved in Tunis local heritage, her hometown of which she was so proud of, but was also involved in World Heritage via, among other things, her contribution to the development of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC).

Thanks to her work, Sémia succeeded in giving to the Association of Safeguarding the Medina of Tunis (A.S.M) an enviable credibility in the management of urban heritage which has reached far beyond the frontiers of her city and her country.

Moreover, on the international scene, Sémia believed in the OWHC, she personally involved herself from the outset of our organization and managed to incite the interest of her local leaders. Together, they built what has become today the OWHC.

Therefore, the city of Tunis, in addition of being part of the temporary committee which gave birth to the OWHC, has occupied the post of vice-president in the meetings of the Board of Directors of the OWHC from 1994 to 2001. As such, Sémia sat on many committees and from 2001, Sémia Akrout Yaiche was the Regional Coordinator of the Regional Secretariat of Africa and the Middle East established in Tunis.

Thank you Sémia ! Your memory remains alive and your work continues within the OWHC.

To all of her family, we offer our condolences and share their suffering. Their loss is also ours.