French bill clears path to return artefacts looted during colonisation

French President Emmanuel Macron looks at a 19th century royal statue of a half-man half-bird of King Ghezo, at the Quai Branly museum in Paris, France, on 27 October 2021. REUTERS - POOL

A bill to make it easier for France to return cultural objects taken during the colonial period was presented at a ministerial council in Paris this week by Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Despite a pledge by President Emmanuel Macron in Burkina Faso in 2017, and follow-up reports, only a small number of items have been returned so far.

The new bill would allow artefacts to be given back by government decree, without needing a full vote in Parliament each time. It would apply to objects taken from their countries of origin under conditions described as "illicit".