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The conflict in Sudan has left experts fearing for the country’s cultural heritage, with museums unable to adequately protect their collections
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 15 Jun 2023
Experts are concerned that the ongoing conflict in Sudan could cause irreparable damage to its rich cultural heritage Credit: Reuters
An ongoing conflict in Sudan could result in irreparable damage to the country’s cultural heritage, with experts fearing that museums in the country are unable to adequately protect their collections from looting and vandals.
The armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - rival factions of the military government of Sudan - began on April 15 and has seen the deaths of nearly 2,000 people and injuries to more than 5,000 others. The conflict has also seen more than a million people displaced and countless priceless artefacts destroyed.
In early June, the RSF seized control of the Sudan National Museum (SNM) in Khartoum.
First established in 1971, the SNM is the largest museum in the country, boasting an impressive collection of Nubian artefacts, including ancient mummies, pottery, statues, murals and other artefacts dating all the way back to the Stone Age.
Unesco previously expressed concerns for the country’s cultural heritage following reports of damage to the Presidental Palace and the Republican Palace Museum in Khatroum.
While the RSF claims that no harm has been done to the museum or its collection since the siege, there is currently no way to verify these claims.
The UN cultural organisation has said that it is “mobilising to provide assistance to the population within the framework of its mandate.”
“Unesco condemns attacks against and damage to cultural heritage in all its forms, attacks against cultural professionals and artistic freedom and any looting of museums and cultural institutions,” said a statement from the organisation.
Unesco is not the only concerned party, however, with Heritage for Peace, an organisation dedicated to preserving cultural heritage in times of conflict, preparing museum evacuation plans and documenting damage to sites across the country.
Damage is not limited to the Sudanese capital either, as the conflict spreads to more of the country’s heritage sites, including the ancient city of Meroe, which is home to more than 44 Nubian pyramids, are at risk of being looted or destroyed. Sudan, one of Africa’s largest countries, is renowned in archeological circles for the abundance of its ancient sites.
Heritage
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