Sudan: Authorities Report the Amount of the Archeological Pieces Steeled During the War

Archeological Pieces in Sudanese Musseum, Sept 2024 Photo: @bloomberg

September 18, 2024 Hour: 1:52 pm

The National Committee to Investigate Violations in the Sudanese War said on Wednesday that a report is being conducted where all archaeological pieces that have been “stolen” by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR) are accounted for of the African country’s museums.

The head of the committee, Attorney General Al Faith Tayfur, said that the National Authority for Antiquities and Museums is conducting the report with the aim of recovering these relics, while assuring that the Sudanese government will cooperate with the international community, UNESCO and even Interpol.

The prosecutor assured that this matter is of particular importance for the country, as “the history and antiques of Sudan, if lost, will be difficult to recover”.

For her part, the director of the National Authority of Antiquities and Museums, Ghalia Jar al Nabi, explained that since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023 many museums and archaeological sites have suffered “serious damage”, especially those in conflict areas such as Khartoum or the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

Massive quantities of precious relics are allegedly being smuggled out of Sudan's national museum for resale abroad, as ancient artefacts fall victim to the country’s bloody war

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“The possessions of the Nyala Museum, the Al Geneina Museum and the National Museum of Sudan, considered one of the largest museums, containing the history of Sudan from the earliest Stone Age to the Islamic period were destroyed and looted,” said the official.

He added that in that museum alone there are more than 100,000 pieces and a series of Christian murals dating from the 7th century.