French lawmakers green light bill to facilitate return of looted artefacts

Ivorian Minister of Culture and Francophonie Françoise Remarck delivers her address upon the return of the Djidji Ayokwe drum, also known as the talking drum, that was looted by French colonial troops from Ivory Coast in 1916, during the latest repatriation of stolen artefacts in Abidjan on 13 March, 2026. © Issouf Sanogo / AFP

France’s lower house has overwhelmingly approved a bill to ease the return of artworks and artefacts looted during the colonial era, paving the way to address restitution requests from countries including Mali, Algeria and Benin.

French lawmakers on Monday passed a bill to simplify the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin.