FM reaffirms Egypt's commitment to supporting recovery of African heritage during UNESCO-African Commission panel discussion

CAIRO – 13 February 2026: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad Badr Abdelatty emphasized the importance of recovering African cultural property, describing it as a matter of identity, dignity, and historical justice.

Abdelatty participated in a panel discussion organized by UNESCO and the African Union Commission on the recovery of African cultural property, titled “Reparations, Memory, and Sovereignty,” on the sidelines of the African Union Executive Council meetings.

During his remarks, the minister stressed the importance of preserving the collective memory of African peoples and their right to reclaim their heritage. He noted that combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property is a top priority for African countries, given the profound loss this crime inflicts on nations’ history and culture, as well as its links to organized crime.

The minister reviewed Egypt’s efforts in this regard, highlighting the country’s success in recovering nearly 30,000 artifacts over the past decades.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to continue supporting African initiatives in heritage protection, capacity building, and the enhancement of documentation, digitization, and scientific research, based on the principle that preserving cultural heritage is a shared responsibility toward future generations.

Abdelatty also underscored the importance of adhering to the principles outlined in the UNESCO Convention and the relevant United Nations General Assembly resolution on the return of cultural property. He commended UNESCO’s efforts in capacity building, raising awareness, supporting the work of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Return of Cultural Property, promoting cultural heritage, and strengthening African countries’ capacities to combat illicit trafficking.