Khartoum – Sudan Now | May 18, 2026
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) renewed its commitment to supporting the protection of Sudan’s cultural heritage and the rehabilitation of museums damaged by the war, stressing that museums represent a fundamental pillar in preserving national memory and identity.
In a statement marking International Museum Day, UNESCO said that more than 20 museums across Sudan have been looted or damaged since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, leading to the loss of thousands of artifacts linked to Nubian, Kushite, Islamic and African civilizations.
The organization revealed that the Sudan National Museum was subjected to extensive looting, resulting in the loss of more than 4,000 artifacts, while efforts continue to document and recover cultural property and strengthen preservation and storage systems.
UNESCO said it had carried out emergency interventions, including damage assessments in five major museums: Kerma, Jebel Barkal, Red Sea, Al-Damar and Sennar museums. It also established a digital inventory documenting 1,737 artifacts and transferred collections from Al-Damar Museum to Kerma Museum for protection.
The organization added that 40 specialists had been trained in debris removal and handling explosive hazards inside museum sites, while nearly 500 workers in the heritage sector, customs, judiciary and law enforcement agencies received training to combat antiquities trafficking and improve documentation and border control procedures.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said museums serve as spaces for dialogue and community interaction, while the organization’s representative in Sudan, Junaid Soroush-Wali, stressed that protecting museums under the current circumstances means protecting the memory and national identity of the Sudanese people.
Sudanese archaeological sites and museums have suffered extensive damage and looting since the outbreak of the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, amid repeated warnings from international organizations and heritage experts over the loss of a significant part of Sudan’s cultural and historical heritage.
