France’s government will see an accelerated transportation of cultural property of African origin per the provisions of a new bill which requires no parliamentary approval.
Reports indicate that the initiative which officially took off in 2017, expressing commitment to return African heritage from France was revisited by Parliament after Culture minister, Rachida Dati, presented the law to the French cabinet this week.
The bill aims to simplify current procedures to return cultural property that was acquired illegally; either stolen, looted or taken with violence between 1815 and 1972 during France’s colonial empire.
The Minister in a recent post on X reiterated his motive for the return of African artefacts to their countries of origin, saying “The text I presented this morning to the Council of Ministers is a powerful act and a powerful ambition! For peace, for the recognition of memories, and for the renewal of our relations with countries that were wronged”
