Sudan to Unveil 570 Recovered Antiquities After Conflict Looting

Sudan will hold a ceremony in Port Sudan on January 13 to unveil 570 antiquities recovered after being looted during the 2023 conflict between the army and Rapid Support Forces. The artefacts, spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era, were recovered with the help of Interpol and UNESCO. The looting had affected over 20 museums, with estimated losses of $110 million. The ceremony highlights Sudan’s efforts to protect its cultural heritage and reclaim stolen historical property.

Sudan is preparing to hold an official ceremony on Tuesday, January 13, in Port Sudan to formally announce the recovery of 570 antiquities that were looted during the country’s ongoing conflict. The event, confirmed in an official invitation by Minister of Culture, Information, and Tourism Khalid Al-Eisir, will showcase the recovered artefacts, which span an extensive historical range, covering periods from prehistory to the modern era. Minister Al-Eisir described the retrieval of these artefacts as a significant national achievement, highlighting that it demonstrates Sudan’s firm commitment to protecting its civilisational heritage and reclaiming cultural property that was unlawfully removed from the country, according to reports from state media SUNA.
The looting of Sudanese museums occurred in the early days of the conflict in April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. During this period of unrest, thousands of invaluable artefacts, many dating back to the 3,000-year-old Kingdom of Kush, were stolen or went missing. These items represented centuries of Sudanese history and culture, encompassing priceless pieces of art, religious and ceremonial objects, and items reflecting the daily lives of ancient civilizations.
Officials have reported that more than 20 museums nationwide were either looted or destroyed, resulting in estimated losses valued at approximately $110 million. Among the institutions affected were major national and historical repositories, including the Presidential Palace Museum, the Armed Forces Museum, the Khalifa House Museum, the Ethnography Museum, and the Natural History Museum at the University of Khartoum. Many of these sites contained irreplaceable artefacts documenting the rich and diverse heritage of Sudan, and their loss represented a profound blow to the country’s cultural patrimony.
Authorities indicated that some of the stolen items had already been smuggled across borders, and the locations of most of the missing artefacts remain unknown. In response to the crisis, the Sudanese government has actively worked since April 2025 with international organizations, including Interpol and UNESCO, to locate and recover looted cultural property. These efforts have included cross-border investigations, diplomatic initiatives, and public appeals to prevent the illegal trade of Sudanese artefacts.
In September of the previous year, UNESCO issued a global alert urging museums, collectors, and auction houses worldwide to refrain from acquiring or facilitating the sale of cultural property originating from Sudan. The organization emphasized the importance of preventing the illicit trade of cultural artefacts, noting that such practices contribute to the loss of cultural heritage and impede recovery efforts by governments and communities striving to reclaim their history.
The upcoming ceremony in Port Sudan represents a major milestone in Sudan’s ongoing mission to safeguard and restore its cultural heritage. By publicly unveiling the 570 recovered artefacts, the government aims not only to celebrate a successful recovery operation but also to raise awareness about the importance of protecting historical treasures and preserving Sudan’s cultural identity for future generations. The event underscores the country’s determination to confront the challenges posed by looting and conflict while reinforcing the broader global commitment to cultural preservation and the protection of humanity’s shared historical legacy.