Schlagwort-Archiv: war

Archaeology Soldiers to Protect Sudanese Cultural Heritage

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Greetings to all local and international colleagues working to protect Sudanese heritage and antiquities amidst the war in Sudan.

By Huda Magzoub Al-Bashir (Khartoum)

Protecting Archaeological Work and its Personnel in Times of War and Crisis

The Question of the Necessity of Archaeological Work in Times of War and Crisis

Archaeological work in times of war and crisis is not always necessary, but it can be important in some cases.

Importance of Archaeological Work in Times of War and Crisis:

1. Protecting Cultural Heritage: Archaeological teams can work to protect cultural heritage from destruction or looting.

2. Documenting Cultural Heritage: Archaeological teams can document cultural heritage before it is destroyed or looted.

3. Promoting Cultural Awareness: Archaeological teams can promote cultural awareness of the importance of cultural heritage.

Risks of Archaeological Work in Times of War and Crisis:

1. Risk of Injury or Death: Archaeological teams may face the risk of injury or death due to war and crisis.

2. Destruction of Archaeological Sites: Archaeological sites may be destroyed or looted due to war and crisis.

3. Difficulty Accessing Sites: It may be difficult to access archaeological sites due to war and crisis.

When should archaeological work be done in times of war and crisis?

1. When there is a risk to cultural heritage: If there is a risk to cultural heritage, archaeological teams should work to protect it.

2. When there is an opportunity to document cultural heritage: If there is an opportunity to document cultural heritage, archaeological teams should work on it.

3. When there is support from local authorities: If there is support from local authorities, archaeological teams should work to protect cultural heritage.

Ultimately, archaeological teams should assess the risks and benefits before deciding to work in times of war and crisis.

The security and academic role of archaeological work in Sudan in times of war and crisis is a vital and important topic. Sudan possesses a rich cultural heritage, but it faces significant challenges in protecting this heritage due to armed conflicts and the illicit trafficking of antiquities.

Security Role:

– Protecting archaeological sites from destruction and looting.

– Enhancing the security of museums and archaeological sites.

– Combating the trafficking of antiquities and cooperating with international organizations to recover looted artifacts.

Academic Role:

– Documenting archaeological sites and artifacts.

– Conducting archaeological research and studies to enhance understanding of Sudan’s cultural heritage.

– Promoting cultural awareness of the importance of archaeological heritage.

Challenges:

– Armed conflicts and illicit trafficking of antiquities.

– Lack of funding and technical expertise.

– Climate change and encroachment on archaeological sites.

Proposed Solutions:

– Enhancing international and regional cooperation to protect cultural heritage.

– Providing funding and technical expertise to enhance the security of archaeological sites.

– Launching awareness campaigns on the importance of cultural heritage.

It is essential that the Sudanese government, international organizations, and civil society work together to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage and promote awareness of its importance.

The collaboration between the Sudanese government, international organizations, academia, and civil society to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage in times of war and crisis has numerous benefits, including:

1. Enhancing cultural security: International and regional cooperation can help enhance the security of archaeological sites and museums, and prevent the trafficking of antiquities.

2. Providing funding and technical expertise: International organizations can provide the necessary funding and technical expertise to protect cultural heritage.

3. Promoting cultural awareness: Joint awareness campaigns can promote awareness of the importance of Sudan’s cultural heritage.

4. Protecting world heritage: Sudan possesses a rich cultural heritage, and international cooperation can help protect this heritage for the world.

5. Enhancing tourism: Cultural heritage can be an important source of tourism, and cooperation can help promote cultural tourism.

6. Enhancing regional cooperation: Cooperation in protecting cultural heritage can enhance regional cooperation between Sudan and neighboring countries.

7. Protecting cultural identity: Cultural heritage is an important part of Sudan’s identity, and cooperation can help protect this identity.

Overall, collaboration between the Sudanese government, international organizations, and civil society can play a significant role in protecting Sudan’s cultural heritage and promoting awareness of its importance.

The work of archaeological missions in Sudan in times of war and crisis has both benefits and risks:

Benefits:

1. Documenting cultural heritage: Archaeological missions can document archaeological sites and artifacts before they are destroyed or looted.

2. Protecting cultural heritage: Archaeological missions can help protect archaeological sites from destruction and looting.

3. Promoting cultural awareness: Archaeological missions can promote awareness of the importance of Sudan’s cultural heritage.

4. Training local staff: Archaeological missions can train local staff on methods of preserving cultural heritage.

5. Enhancing international cooperation: Archaeological missions can enhance international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage protection.

Risks:

1. Risk of destruction or looting: Archaeological sites may be vulnerable to destruction or looting due to war and crisis.

2. Risk of injury or death: Archaeological missions may face the risk of injury or death due to war and crisis.

3. Transfer of artifacts: War may lead to the transfer of artifacts abroad without the permission of the Sudanese authorities.

4. Deterioration of archaeological sites: War may cause deterioration of archaeological sites due to mishandling or lack of expertise.

Therefore, it is essential that archaeological missions in Sudan work in cooperation with the Sudanese authorities and international organizations, and follow necessary security and precautionary measures to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage.

The risk to archaeological mission personnel in Sudan in times of war is a vital and important topic. There are several risks facing archaeological mission personnel in Sudan, including:

1. Risk of injury or death: Archaeological missions may face the risk of injury or death due to war and crisis.

2. Kidnapping or detention: Archaeological mission personnel may be kidnapped or detained by armed groups.

3. Looting or theft of equipment: Equipment and tools used in archaeological missions may be looted or stolen.

4. Destruction of archaeological sites: Archaeological sites may be destroyed or looted due to war and crisis.

5. Difficulty accessing sites: It may be difficult to access archaeological sites due to war and crisis.

6. Lack of logistical support: There may be a lack of logistical support and resources necessary for archaeological missions.

7. Risk of disease: Archaeological mission personnel may be exposed to the risk of disease due to poor health conditions.

Therefore, it is essential that archaeological missions take precautionary and security measures to protect their personnel, such as:

1. Cooperating with local authorities: Working with local authorities and international organizations to ensure the safety of the mission.

2. Risk assessment: Assessing potential risks and taking necessary measures to mitigate them.

3. Providing logistical support: Providing logistical support and resources necessary for the mission.

4. Training personnel: Training personnel on security and precautionary procedures.

5. Continuous monitoring: Continuously monitoring the security situation and communicating with local authorities.

What are the responsible authorities for protecting global, international, and academic archaeological personnel in times of war and emergency?

There are several authorities responsible for protecting global, international, and academic archaeological personnel in times of war and emergency, including:

1. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): UNESCO is the primary authority responsible for protecting world cultural heritage and provides support and assistance to archaeological personnel in times of war and emergency.

2. International Union of Academies: The International Union of Academies is an international organization that works to protect cultural heritage and promote international cooperation in the field of archaeology.

3. International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent works to protect civilians, including archaeological personnel, in times of war and emergency.

4. International Atomic Energy Agency: The International Atomic Energy Agency works to protect cultural heritage from damage caused by nuclear radiation.

5. Non-Governmental Organizations: There are many non-governmental organizations that work to protect cultural heritage and archaeological personnel in times of war and emergency, such as BLAZ and Cultural Heritage in Danger.

6. Local Authorities: Local authorities in countries affected by war and emergency are responsible for protecting archaeological personnel and cultural heritage.

7. International Emergency Organizations: International emergency organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provide humanitarian assistance, including protection of archaeological personnel, in times of war and emergency.

These authorities work together to provide support and assistance to archaeological personnel in times of war and emergency, and to ensure the protection of cultural heritage.

Is it necessary for archaeological personnel to work in times of war and crisis?

Archaeological personnel working in times of war and crisis is not always necessary, but it can be important in some cases. Here are some points to consider:

Risks of archaeological work in times of war and crisis:

When should archaeological personnel work in times of war and crisis?

1. When there is a risk to cultural heritage: If there is a risk to cultural heritage, archaeological personnel should work to protect it.

2. When there is an opportunity to document cultural heritage: If there is an opportunity to document cultural heritage, archaeological personnel should work on it.

3. When there is support from local authorities: If there is support from local authorities, archaeological personnel should work to protect cultural heritage.

In conclusion, archaeological personnel should assess the risks and benefits before deciding to work in times of war and crisis.

Forgetting Sudan?

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On the occasion of the publication of the latest issue of the Aegyptiaca journal (no. 9, 2025), I would like to draw attention once again to the current situation in Sudan. This brand-new issue also features my review of William Carruthers‘ splendid book, Flooded Pasts (2022).

For Flooded Pasts, Carruthers did a really thorough review of the archival material produced during the famous UNESCO Nubian campaign. He says it’s clear that the archives we’re talking about are part of a (post)colonial context, where modern Nubian communities and their sites have been ignored in the past. The focus of the archives, archaeological investigations and historical narratives is exclusively on the ancient past, thus giving rise to the necessity of „repeopling Nubia“, the subtitle of the conclusion of the book (pp. 274–283).

One result of the UNESCO campaign in Sudan was the opening of the National Museum in Khartoum on 25 May 1971. Even though its garden had temples from Aksha, Buhen, Semna East and Semna West, the museum and its collection weren’t given World Heritage status (unlike Egypt; check out the reviewed book for more on this, on pp. 239–241). Carruthers (p. 242) rightly puts this in context, pointing out that Sudan at the time was “a state in some degree of turmoil” (p. 242). It’s interesting that on page 241, above the heading “Forgetting Sudan?”, there’s a picture of the Sudan National Museum (Carruthers‘ Fig. 7.1). As with so much of Sudan’s cultural heritage, the museum has suffered destruction and looting in a ‚forgotten‘ war, which has been going on since 2023.

Destroyed front of the Sudan National Museum, 15 May 2025 (photo: National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums.

The current conflict in Sudan shows just how closely linked archaeology is to the society around it. The archaeology of Sudan is closely tied to the history of colonialism, and it’s been affected by different forms of exploitation and manipulation by governments and powerful groups who have used it to push their own national agendas.  It’s clear that this is just as true today as it was in the past.

At the time of writing, Carruthers said that discussing the future of the Nubians was a tricky topic (p. 283). The war in Sudan has been going on since 2023 and has affected millions of people all over the country.  This also shows why we should be interested in creating Nubian histories. It’s not just the institutions involved in the so-called Nubian campaign or archaeologists working in Sudan who should be interested, but everyone on a global level. There are new versions about the Nubian presence in Egypt, Sudan, the United States and other places that are still to be written! And these are anything but marginal.

As we said a few weeks ago at the UNESCO conference in Berlin, we’re never going to give up on Sudan! But we also need more people to talk about Sudan, to care about the Sudanese people and to help protect their rich cultural heritage.

With the festive season here in Europe and another awful war going on just next door, we should remember that millions of Sudanese people have lost everything and are struggling to survive. Sudan is the biggest humanitarian crisis of 2025, and we’re really hoping things will change in 2026.

Museums and Heritage in Sudan

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by Huda Magzoub Elbashir, October 2025

Opinion of Officials on the Attack, Theft, and Looting of the Sudan National Museum:

Dr. Ghalia Garinabi, Director General of the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), described the incident as a „humanitarian catastrophe“ that poses a significant threat to Sudan’s cultural heritage. She expressed her deep regret over the incident and condemned the looting of the museum.

Details of the Attack and Theft:

  • The museum was subjected to extensive looting and destruction, with over 100,000 artifacts stolen, including gold pieces, jewelry, and valuable historical artifacts.
  • Some of the stolen artifacts are believed to have been smuggled out of Sudan, with some spotted in neighboring countries like South Sudan.
  • The museum suffered significant damage to its infrastructure, including the destruction of laboratories and workshops.

Reactions and Efforts:

  • International Cooperation: Sudanese authorities are working with international organizations to recover the stolen artifacts and hold those responsible accountable.
  • Investigations: Authorities are conducting investigations to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
  • Awareness: Efforts are being made to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Sudan’s cultural heritage and combating artifact smuggling.

Dr. Ikhlas Abdel Latif, Director of Museums Administration and Head of the Unit for Tracking and Recovering Stolen Artifacts, described the incident as a „great calamity“ and stated that it was a systematic theft by the Rapid Support Forces. She noted that the attackers targeted the most valuable and lightweight artifacts, and destroyed some that they couldn’t carry, reflecting their barbaric treatment of Sudan’s heritage.

Abdel Hai Al-Sawai, Director of the Archaeological Discovery Department at the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), believes that Sudan’s antiquities have been exposed to significant risks due to the war, especially in Khartoum. He emphasized that the National Museum in Khartoum was the most affected, looted, and stolen, as it contains many eras of Sudan’s ancient history, in addition to the warehouses that hold thousands of artifacts from various eras.

Impact of the War on Museums and Antiquities:

  • Destruction of Museums: Many museums and archaeological sites outside the capital were damaged, including the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in Darfur.
  • Looting of Antiquities: Many priceless historical artifacts were looted from the National Museum in Khartoum, and many other archaeological sites were affected.
  • Assessment and Restoration Efforts: Efforts are underway to assess and evaluate the damage, with plans to restore damaged museums and recover stolen artifacts.

International Condemnation:

  • United Nations Human Rights Office: Condemned the gross human rights violations in Sudan, including attacks on museums and archaeological sites.
  • European Union: Strongly condemned the gross human rights violations in Sudan and called for the protection of cultural heritage and archaeological sites.
  • United States: Condemned the attack on civilians and cultural heritage.

Scorched Ruins and Remnants of the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in El Fasher city was partially destroyed due to shelling in October 2025. This attack sparked widespread condemnation and was considered by authorities and international organizations as a serious violation of Sudan’s cultural heritage.

The museum housed valuable artifacts and important historical documents, and its destruction is a significant loss to Sudan’s heritage.

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies expresses its deep concern over the systematic targeting of cultural and historical sites by warring parties in Sudan. The destruction of historical sites by warring parties is a deliberate act aimed at erasing the history of the Sudanese people, particularly in the Darfur region, and attempting to eliminate symbols that unite communities in the region.

Support from Global Museums:

Global museums can provide effective support to the Sudan National Museum through:

  • Technical and Expert Support: Providing experts in archaeology and restoration to assess damage and identify stolen artifacts.
  • Financial Support: Funding projects to restore the museum and recover stolen artifacts.
  • Diplomatic Support: Pressuring governments and international organizations to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage and recover stolen artifacts.
  • Media Support: Raising awareness about the importance of preserving Sudan’s cultural heritage and combating the importance of combating artifact smuggling.

State efforts to safeguard cultural heritage: The war in Sudan and the protection of antiquities

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On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the Council of Ministers approved a number of international agreements for the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism. This was considered a historic event due to the long wait for these agreements to be reviewed by the Council. The approved agreements include:

1. Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970).

2. Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001).

3. UNIDROIT  „Institut international pour l’unification du droit privé“.    Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (1995).

Additionally, the Council approved several memoranda of understanding between the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism and its counterparts in China and Russia, including:

1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism of Sudan and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of culture.