Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty, reaffirmed Cairo’s firm commitment to supporting the restitution of African cultural heritage during a high-level panel discussion jointly organized by UNESCO and the African Union Commission.
The event, titled “Reparations, Memory and Sovereignty,” was held on Friday on the sidelines of meetings of the Executive Council of the African Union, bringing together officials and cultural policy leaders to address the long-standing issue of returning looted and trafficked African cultural property.
In his remarks, Abdelatty underscored that the restitution of African cultural property is not merely a legal or procedural matter, but one deeply tied to identity, dignity and historical justice.
“The recovery of cultural property is intrinsically linked to the collective memory of African peoples and their sovereign right to reclaim their heritage,” the minister stated, emphasizing that illicit trafficking in cultural goods remains a pressing challenge for African nations.
He warned that the illegal trade in antiquities not only deprives communities of their history and cultural identity, but is also frequently connected to transnational organized crime networks.
Highlighting Egypt’s experience, Abdelatty noted that Cairo has successfully recovered nearly 30,000 antiquities over the past decades through diplomatic, legal and security efforts. He reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to continue supporting African partners in protecting heritage, strengthening documentation systems, expanding digitization initiatives and promoting scientific research.
Safeguarding cultural heritage, he stressed, represents a shared responsibility toward future generations.
The foreign minister also called for strict adherence to the principles enshrined in relevant international frameworks, including UNESCO conventions and United Nations General Assembly resolutions concerning the return and restitution of cultural property to countries of origin.
He praised UNESCO’s efforts in capacity building, raising awareness and supporting the Intergovernmental Committee dedicated to facilitating the return of cultural property.
Abdelatty further emphasized the importance of empowering African states to combat illicit trafficking through enhanced legal cooperation, institutional capacity and knowledge-sharing.
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