PARIS: The UN cultural agency, UNESCO, on Thursday raised the alarm over reports of looting and destruction of museums and cultural institutions by armed groups in war-wracked Sudan.
In a statement, UNESCO highlighted its increasing apprehension regarding the safety of Sudan’s cultural treasures amidst the ongoing violence. “UNESCO is deeply concerned about the recent reports of possible looting and damage of several museums and heritage institutions in Sudan, including the National Museum, by armed groups,” the agency said.
Since hostilities erupted in April 2023, following a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), UNESCO has been actively monitoring the impact of the conflict on Sudan’s rich cultural heritage.
Reports have surfaced of looting and vandalism affecting significant museums and archaeological sites. UNESCO’s statement specifically mentioned the National Museum of Sudan in Khartoum, the Khalifa House Museum in Omdurman, and the Nyala Museum in South Darfur as being particularly vulnerable. The National Museum, established in the 1970s, houses over 2,700 invaluable artifacts, including ancient relics from Egyptian Pharaonic dynasties and Nubian cultures.
The agency has underscored its urgent call to both the public and art market participants globally, urging them to avoid acquiring, importing, or transferring ownership of any cultural property from Sudan.
UNESCO has announced plans to conduct training sessions for law enforcement and judiciary officials from Sudan’s neighboring countries. These sessions, scheduled to take place in Cairo by the end of the year, will focus on enhancing the capacity to safeguard and recover cultural property affected by the conflict.
Since the conflict’s onset, UNESCO has supported emergency measures in five other Sudanese archaeological museums. These measures have included the packing of “endangered collections” and the establishment of “safe havens” to protect these invaluable items from potential damage or theft.
The war in Sudan has resulted in a severe humanitarian and cultural crisis, exacerbating the already dire conditions in the country. The conflict pits the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, against the RSF, commanded by Burhan’s former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
