UNESCO condemns looting of Sudan National Museum

September 13, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – UNESCO on Tuesday strongly condemned reports that Sudan’s National Museum has been looted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) elements, highlighting a growing threat to the country’s cultural heritage amid ongoing conflict.

Last week, Sudanese researchers called on South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit to help recover valuable artefacts looted from the National Museum in Khartoum under the RSF control and taken to South Sudan for sale.

The U.N. cultural agency said it has been closely monitoring the impact of the conflict on Sudan’s heritage since it began in April 2023. Recent weeks have seen an alarming escalation, with reports of widespread looting of museums, heritage sites, and archaeological sites.

“UNESCO is particularly concerned by reports of looting at the National Museum of Sudan,” the agency said in a statement. The museum, which houses important historical artefacts and archaeological collections, has been undergoing restoration coordinated by UNESCO with funding from Italy since 2019.

The agency also condemned reports of looting at the Khalifa House Museum and Nyala Museum, emphasizing that such acts constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

UNESCO reiterated its call to the public and the art market to refrain from acquiring or trading cultural property from Sudan. It warned that any illegal sale or displacement of these items would result in the irreversible loss of part of the Sudanese cultural identity.

The agency is stepping up efforts to prevent trafficking, with plans to train law enforcement from neighbouring countries. It also uses satellite imagery to assess damage to World Heritage sites and other historical sites.

UNESCO has also been working to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage by implementing emergency measures at five archaeological museums, including securing collections and digitizing over 1,700 objects.

The agency called on all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and protect Sudan’s cultural heritage. It stressed that the looting and destruction of cultural property is not only a crime against Sudan but also a crime against humanity.