ABUJA, May 11 (THE AFRICAN PORTAL) – French President Emmanuel Macron has said the process of returning African artworks taken during the colonial era has become “unstoppable”.
He was speaking at a two-day economic summit in Nairobi, Kenya, shortly after the French parliament unanimously approved a new law intended to ease the return of cultural artefacts to Africa.
France holds tens of thousands of artworks and artefacts taken from across the continent during its colonial period.
New law clears path for restitution
For years, France has faced criticism over the slow pace of returns, with each item previously requiring separate parliamentary approval.
The new legislation allows the government to return cultural objects without needing individual votes for each case.
Despite a rising number of restitution requests, only a small number of artefacts have so far been returned.
In 2025, France’s parliament approved the return of a talking drum to Ivory Coast. The instrument, taken by colonial troops in 1916 from the Ébrié people, was returned in March.
Macron defends restitution policy
Macron said he had promised young Africans during a 2017 speech in Burkina Faso that France would facilitate the return of looted cultural objects within five years.
“I believe we have built something irreversible and unstoppable,” he said on Monday.
He also criticised opponents of the restitution policy, describing the process as “about repentance”.
“Even if someone came to power in France who wanted to roll back restitutions, I don’t think they would succeed,” he added.
Limited returns so far
Other former colonial powers in Europe have also begun returning artefacts taken during imperial rule, but France has faced particular challenges due to its legal framework.
While expectations for returns have grown in recent years, only a limited number of objects have been restituted so far.
Macron said the latest reforms marked the start of a broader process, adding: “This is the beginning of an exchange.”
