British News Agency

According to CCTV, museums and archaeological sites across Sudan have been damaged as a result of armed conflicts that have been ongoing for nearly three years. Official data indicate that 22 national museums in the country were damaged or looted, and around 4,000 cultural artifacts have disappeared.

Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15, 2023, Sudan has been plunged into a deadly civil war. The clashes have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.

Jamal al-Abidin, curator of the Khalifa House Museum, said that many artifacts were looted and some buildings were destroyed as a result of rocket attacks. Officials from the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism emphasized that the losses pose a serious threat to Sudan’s culture and historical identity.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and experts warned about the smuggling of looted artifacts abroad and called on the international art market to take action. The Sudanese government announced that 570 cultural artifacts have so far been recovered.

Officials stated that due to shortages of staff and funding caused by the war, most museums have not yet reopened, and that protecting cultural heritage and rebuilding facilities will be a long-term process.