France Debates Bill to Ease Return of Colonial-Era Looted Artworks

France’s parliament is considering a bill to simplify the return of colonial-era looted artworks to their countries of origin by removing the need for individual approvals. The proposal follows restitution requests from several African countries. President Emmanuel Macron supports faster returns, but the bill still awaits approval from the National Assembly amid political debate.

France’s parliament is currently debating a bill aimed at simplifying the return of artworks and cultural artefacts looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin. The proposed law is designed to remove the existing requirement for each item in France’s national collection to be individually approved by lawmakers before it can be returned, a process widely seen as slow and restrictive.
France still holds tens of thousands of cultural objects acquired during its colonial expansion, including sculptures, ceremonial items, and other historically significant artefacts. Over the years, several African countries, including Algeria, Mali, and Benin, have formally requested the restitution of cultural property taken during colonial rule, leading to increasing diplomatic and public pressure on France to act.
President Emmanuel Macron has made the return of African cultural heritage a key political commitment since taking office. He has acknowledged France’s colonial past more directly than many of his predecessors and has pledged to accelerate the return of artefacts to their countries of origin as part of efforts to repair historical relations with former colonies.
The draft legislation, which has already received unanimous approval in France’s upper house, the Senate, now awaits consideration and approval in the National Assembly. If passed, it would specifically apply to cultural property acquired between 1815 and 1972, creating a legal framework intended to streamline restitution procedures and reduce bureaucratic delays.
Despite broad support for the principle of restitution, the bill has sparked political debate within France. Some lawmakers argue that its scope should be expanded to include a wider range of cultural objects, while others believe restitution should be limited or conditioned on the diplomatic relations between France and the requesting countries. The far-right National Rally party, for example, has suggested restricting returns to countries with what it describes as “cordial” relations with France.
The issue comes amid broader tensions between France and several of its former West African colonies, where recent political changes, including military coups, have led to governments that are increasingly critical of French influence. These developments have further complicated discussions around cultural restitution and historical accountability.
In recent years, France has taken limited steps toward returning looted cultural property. In 2023, it passed framework laws allowing the return of certain categories of items, including artworks looted from Jewish families during World War II and human remains held in public collections. More recently, in 2025, France approved the return of a “talking drum” taken from the Ébrié people in present-day Côte d’Ivoire in 1916, which was officially repatriated in March.