Protecting Sudan’s cultural heritage amidst war
War is wreaking havoc on Sudan’s archaeological sites. A whole generation is at risk of losing not only the tangible relics of their history, but also their sense of identity and belonging. But efforts are being made to protect Sudan’s rich cultural heritage.
For thousands of years, Sudan has been a crossroads for the wider region.. Contact with other cultural groups, tribal movements, trade, and immigration have led to continuous cultural change and development that has shaped the present Sudanese cultural and social identity. Evidence of Sudan’s development and interactions has been preserved in tangible forms like monumental architecture, numerous archaeological remains and objects, and elaborate artworks. Intangible evidence is recognized in oral histories, knowledge, traditional technologies, and practices.
This complex cultural heritage is now under immense threat from the ongoing war. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are either neglecting or simply unaware of the international laws that are in place to protect and preserve cultural heritage during armed conflicts. This neglect is evident in the mass destruction and damage to infrastructure and cultural heritage in various parts of the country.
But there are sadly also examples of willed destruction. For example, after looting the Sudanese National Museum, the RSF transported four truckloads of the stolen artifacts to western Sudan (this information from the Sudanese central intelligence agency has been corroborated by international organizations, with satellite images capturing the trucks).
We are witnessing a systematic destruction of cultural heritage that deprives Sudanese communities of their history and identity. It threatens the Sudanese people’s connection to their past, present stability, and dreams for the future of their children and coming generations.
We are witnessing a systematic destruction of cultural heritage that deprives Sudanese communities of their history and identity.
Nowhere is safe
The conflict has spread to multiple regions, causing widespread damage. Western Sudan, along with Khartoum and Al Jazirah states, faces mass looting and destruction. International cultural heritage sites such as Meroe Island in Wadi El Neel State and Jebel Barkal in Northern State are at high-risk. National and international organizations have struggled to provide support and secure safe passage to protect cultural heritage because of the lack of security and safety in these conflict zones.
International cultural heritage sites such as Meroe Island in Wadi El Neel State and Jebel Barkal in Northern State are at high-risk.
In the immediate aftermath of war, the primary concern is safety. Every aspect of life revolves around survival. But as time goes by, new concerns emerge. For me, as an archaeologist at the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, a new set of worries has arisen: What will happen to the remaining intact Sudanese museums during the ongoing war? To what extent will the archaeological sites be affected? What measures should national and international organizations implement to preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Sudan?
Many of Khartoum’s historical sites, libraries, academic institutions, and museums have been heavily impacted. The University of Khartoum and its complex historical buildings, the Natural History Museum, the National Records Office, and the Sudan National Library are among the most affected sites. Vandalism has reached all the museums in Khartoum, causing a substantial loss of cultural heritage. The Ethnographic Museum and the National Museum remain under RSF control, and due to the lack of contact, we have limited information regarding the extent of the damage to the museum facilities and the archaeological collections in the storerooms. The Khalifa House Museum in the Omdurman area has also been severely damaged.
Vandalism has reached all the museums in Khartoum, causing a substantial loss of cultural heritage.
The destruction of museums extends well beyond Khartoum. The Gazira Museum in Wad Madani, which was engaged in the cultural heritage awareness initiative ‘Safeguarding of Sudan Living Heritage’, is at risk due to its proximity to an army airstrip. Last month, a video of RSF soldiers inside the museum surfaced. We currently do not have any information about the condition of the museum’s collections and storeroom.
In western Sudan, the Nyala Museum and its archaeological collections have been levelled to the ground. Two years ago, the Al Geneina Museum was attacked and looted by the RSF. The archaeological collections were moved to a safe place after the RSF moved on, but we don’t know what happened after that. We have lost all contact with our employees in Geneina. According to our latest reports, the same goes for the Sultan Ali Dinar Palace Museum in Al Fashir.
In collaboration with international partners, NCAM has intensified its efforts in areas where more sites of great cultural and historical significance are considered to be in immediate danger. Important work is being done at the Shikan Museum in Al-Obeid city in western Sudan, where collections are being documented and protected, and materials are being evacuated to a safe place with the support of the British Council. In the Nile Valley Museum in the city of Al-Damer in the Nile River State, collections have been documented and prepared for transfer to a secure location, again with the assistance of the British Council.
Internal displacement poses new risks
Interestingly, several archaeological sites are under threat not only from the war, but also from the unprecedented influx of people who have been displaced by the war. Having lost their livelihoods, many have turned to agriculture and goldmining as a new source of income, adding another layer of risk to the preservation of these invaluable cultural and archaeological sites. The most affected sites include Old Dongola, Kerma, Si Island, Sedinga, Soleb, Sessebi, Kedurma, Sabu, and Kawa in northern Sudan, as well as several sites in the River Nile State, most notably the Bajrawiya pyramids, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Northern Sudan and the Meroitic sites in the Nile State. The increasing number of people who now live in close vicinity of these sites exacerbates the risk of vandalism and destruction.
Having lost their livelihoods, many have turned to agriculture and goldmining as a new source of income, adding another layer of risk to the preservation of these invaluable cultural and archaeological sites.
Urgent need for funding and collaboration
Efforts to protect Sudan’s cultural heritage are hampered by logistical challenges and a shortage of qualified personnel. Many experts have been displaced, and the communication infrastructure is inadequate. Funding is also insufficient to address the conditions affecting the archaeological sites.
With support from UNESCO, the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and other international institutions such as the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH Foundation), the British Council, the Sudanese Archaeological Research Society (SARS), Section Française de la Direction des Antiquités du Soudan (SFDAS), and the Center for Mediterranean Studies at the University of Warsaw, ongoing registration efforts are underway to document museum materials located outside conflict zones. These efforts encompass museums in Sinar (Sinar State), Karima, Gebel Barkal (Northern State), and Al Damer (River Nile State).
NCAM has organized online workshops and created a location map to help staff remaining in the country to safeguard cultural heritage, and our Emergency Action Department has established a virtual emergency office to assess damage and implement measures to protect sites outside conflict zones.
Despite the ongoing threat of war, there is optimism that Sudan's cultural heritage can be preserved. The profound significance of our cultural heritage is increasingly recognized. Sudanese communities have mobilized on social media, creating numerous groups to raise awareness locally and globally about the urgent necessity of safeguarding our cultural heritage. There is also a push to engage the warring parties to secure safe passage for teams to assess damage and implement reconstruction efforts. But if our colleagues who remain in Sudan are to continue safeguarding these sites, funding that facilitates movement between locations and makes it possible to employ guards for side protection will be crucial. Support could also include scholarships for those who haven't completed their studies or funding through initiatives like the American Sudanese Research Center's (AmSARC) small grants program.
Sudanese communities have mobilized on social media, creating numerous groups to raise awareness locally and globally about the urgent necessity of safeguarding our cultural heritage.
A tragic loss for future generations
As the war continues the reality of losing historical buildings becomes more pronounced. The Sudanese people and the international community must collaborate in safeguarding this exceptionally rich and historical heritage, ensuring that it continues to inspire pride in our collective identity. Sudan's cultural heritage transcends national borders, resonating globally and enriching humanity's collective memory. The loss of any part of this heritage diminishes us all.
This Sudanese Perspectives blog post is written by Dr. Habab Idriss Ahmed, Senior Inspector, National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, Sudan.
The views expressed in this post are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the SNAC project or CMI.
