Presented by: Huda Magzoub Al-Bashir, Head of Antiquities, Sudan National Museum, 09 October, 2025.

The Sudan National Museum in Khartoum has been severely damaged due to the ongoing war in the country. The museum, which houses thousands of artifacts from ancient civilizations, including statues, mummies, and golden relics, was looted and vandalized by armed groups.

Key Facts:

– Location: The museum is situated in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, along the Nile River.

– Damage: Many exhibits were stolen, and some were damaged beyond repair.

– Looted Artifacts: The stolen artifacts include golden relics and other valuable items.

– Responsibility: The Sudanese authorities blame the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the looting and damage.

– Impact: The looting and destruction of the museum have sparked widespread concern and condemnation, with many calling for the preservation of Sudan’s cultural heritage .

The Sudan National Museum in Khartoum has suffered significant damage and looting due to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Here are some key points about the situation:

– Destruction and Looting: The museum, which houses an estimated 100,000 objects, has been comprehensively looted, with thousands of artifacts stolen or destroyed. The RSF occupied the museum in June 2023, and videos have shown empty galleries, shattered display cases, and rubble strewn across the institution.

– Cultural Significance: The museum’s collection includes ancient Nubian kingdoms, Kushite empire, Christian kingdoms of Alodia and Makuria, and Islamic sultanates of Sennar and Darfur. Some of the most valuable items stolen include mummies dating back to 2500 BCE and royal Kushite treasures.

– International Response: UNESCO has appealed to international art dealers, museums, and customs authorities to refrain from trading in or facilitating the movement of Sudanese cultural property looted from the museum or protected sites. The international community is urged to raise awareness and share documentation identifying looted Sudanese artifacts to recover them.

– Current State: The museum’s strongroom was breached, and its entire archaeological gold collection was stolen. A large storage space containing over 500,000 artifacts from across the country was also ransacked and damaged.

– Impact on Heritage: Sudanese intellectuals and citizens have expressed profound grief over the museum’s destruction, framing the loss as symbolic of the broader devastation wrought by the war. The war has endangered Sudan’s cultural heritage, with several regional museums and archaeological sites vulnerable to looting and destruction.

The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, and plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis. Both the SAF and RSF have been accused of committing human rights violations and international crimes

There is evidence suggesting that the stolen artifacts from the Sudan National Museum have been trafficked to several destinations, including:

– South Sudan: According to Sudanese officials, some of the stolen artifacts have been smuggled into South Sudan, where they are being bought and sold by antiquities dealers. Some of the artifacts have been identified in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and efforts are underway with Interpol to track them down.

– International markets: Reports have emerged of stolen Sudanese artifacts being offered for sale on online platforms, such as eBay, where three stolen Sudanese statues were listed for sale for $200. However, the listings were later removed.

– Within Sudan: Some of the stolen artifacts have been found hidden in factories and homes within Sudan, as was the case in the city of Atbara, where stolen artifacts from the Nyala Museum in Darfur were discovered.

Efforts are being made by Sudanese authorities and international organizations to recover the stolen artifacts and protect Sudan’s cultural heritage.