Many museums and archaeological sites containing large collections have been looted in Sudan, according to UNESCO, which warned of the dangers of destroying or trading the country’s rich heritage. Sudan has been enduring a 17-month war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The UN agency expressed concern over reports of “possible looting and sabotage by armed groups in many museums and heritage institutions in Sudan,” including the National Museum, which “houses important antiquities, statues, and archaeological collections of great historical and material value.”
Destroyed Museums
The Supreme Committee for the Preservation of Antiquities and Heritage is holding regular meetings, headed by the Minister of Culture and Information, to assess the damage done to Sudanese antiquities.
According to Sudan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Giraham Abdalgadir, dozens of museums have been subjected to destruction and theft, including the National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Folklore Museum at the Ministry’s headquarters, the Khalifa House Museum, the Palace Museum, and the Military Museum.
Threatened Cultural Sites
The government also reported that 76 sites in northern Sudan are threatened due to the expansion of war zones and natural factors. It is coordinating with UNESCO to preserve these valuable archaeological areas.
Several archaeologists have observed violations at sites in the Nile and Northern states, including robbery, random construction, agriculture on heritage sites, and the defacing of archaeological cemeteries. Some sites have turned into battlefields between the army and the Rapid Support Forces after the forces infiltrated the Naqaa and Al-Musawwarat site, which is listed as a World Heritage site.
Antiquities Sold Online
UNESCO stated that “several other major collections showcasing Sudan’s rich history were reported stolen from the Khalifa House Museum and the Nyala Museum.” UNESCO is currently working to “accurately assess the extent of the damage.”
The Paris-based organization also said: “In recent weeks, threats to culture have reached an unprecedented level,” calling for “the protection of Sudanese heritage from destruction and illicit trafficking.”
The government disclosed that some stolen art pieces and artifacts had been transported to the Republic of South Sudan. In coordination with South Sudanese security forces, two vehicles carrying dozens of art pieces smuggled from Khartoum museums were seized.
Several reports have revealed that historical artifacts are being offered for sale online, albeit in very limited numbers. This prompted UNESCO to raise the alarm about Sudan’s historical heritage, amid accusations that the Rapid Support Forces are looting museums, stealing antiquities, and smuggling them abroad.
Dr. Alnazir Saty, Director of the Museums Authority in Sudan, stated that “the majority of our museums were destroyed and their antiquities stolen, especially the Sudan National Museum and the Museum of Ethnography.”
He also revealed that the government has taken legal measures, in coordination with various agencies, to recover Sudanese antiquities from international auctions.
Cultural Destruction
Libraries, archives, and radio libraries in Sudan have also been looted and destroyed by armed groups. According to government statistics, 41 radio stations and libraries have been looted or destroyed.
Among the most affected was the Sudanese Document House, which contains 3 million documents distributed across 200 collections, including 80,000 documents from the Funj and Fur sultanates and the Mahdi era.