Sudan’s national museum ransacked in war, experts decry loss of artefacts and cultural identity

Sudan’s National Museum, once a vibrant showcase of millennia-old history, now lies in ruins after two years of conflict between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Precious artefacts—from Meroe-era graves to Pharaonic temple relics—have been looted or systematically destroyed, erasing chapters of Sudanese identity. RSF forces, who occupied the museum until March 2024, stole irreplaceable items, leaving behind shattered remnants. A damaged climate-controlled building now exposes ancient hieroglyphics to decay. Art experts describe the devastation as "a loss that makes one want to cry," while authorities scramble to recover stolen pieces. Despite government restoration efforts, many artefacts may never be recovered, their stories lost forever. The museum’s fate mirrors Khartoum’s broader collapse, where history itself has become a war casualty. Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan reports. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Sudan #SudanNationalMuseum #SudanWar #SudanCulturalHeritage #RSF #RapidSupportForces #MeroeHistory #SaveSudanArtifacts #Archaeology #SudanWarCrimes #SudanStolenHistory #SudanMuseumLooting