Renewing Commitment to Sudan’s National Museum

Launched in 2018 with the support of the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project aimed to modernize the Sudan National Museum by strengthening collections management and documentation, improving conservation conditions, enhancing the visitor experience, and reinforcing the Museum's role as a centre for culture, education, and social development.

Among its key achievements were the completion of a new exhibition design based on the documentation of more than 2,000 objects in accordance with international standards; the preparation of detailed architectural and engineering designs for the Museum's rehabilitation, including the roof restoration; the installation of fire protection and IT security systems; and the conservation of mural paintings alongside specialised capacity-building in wall painting conservation and building rehabilitation.

Following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, UNESCO, in agreement with the project partners, adapted the project to respond to the urgent needs of safeguarding Sudan's cultural heritage, including the Sudan National Museum and the wider heritage sector.

Emergency interventions focused on the production of analytical reports on the illicit trafficking of Sudanese cultural property through online platforms and social media and strengthening national capacities and securing the museum environment. More than 500 museum professionals, customs officers, law enforcement officials, and members of the judiciary received specialised tailored trainings to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property in Port Sudan, Khartoum, Dongola and Cairo, which led to the recovery of 570 stolen objects from the museum by the national authorities. In addition, rubble, war debris, and unexploded ordnance were cleared, and three essential office spaces were rehabilitated and equipped to enable safe access and operations for museum staff.

The provision of three sets of IT equipment enabled museum personnel to document more than 10,000 objects, supporting the recovery of museum records and the identification of missing artefacts. At the same time, comprehensive architectural and structural damage assessments were undertaken to evaluate the impact of the conflict on the museum's integrity and to guide a phased comprehensive rehabilitation strategy in accordance with international standards once funding is made available. Furthermore, the project initiated the revision of national antiquities law to incorporate the provision of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, which is being ratified by Sudan.

These interventions demonstrate UNESCO's commitment to safeguarding Sudan's cultural heritage under emergency conditions while laying the foundations for long-term recovery.

In the face of the urgent increasing needs that are facing Sudan's cultural heritage, and in line with UNESCO's Emergency Action Plan for Sudan prepared with and endorsed by Sudan's stakeholders, UNESCO calls on all the donor communities and partners to support the urgent protection and safeguarding of Sudan's unique cultural heritage for future generations.