France is pushing forward with the African Art Return Bill, a major legal move to ease the restitution of looted African artefacts. The new law allows the government to return cultural property without going through Parliament each time.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati introduced the bill to the French cabinet. She called it a powerful symbol of peace and memory, as well as a step toward restoring trust with African nations impacted by colonial theft. The bill supports a 2017 promise by President Emmanuel Macron to prioritize the return of African heritage items.
Currently, France must pass a separate law for each artefact it agrees to return. This process often takes years. The African Art Return Bill changes that. It lets the French government approve returns by decree—if the artefact meets strict conditions.
The law applies to cultural objects taken between 1815 and 1972, during the colonial era. However, only items intended for future public display qualify. Military items, archives, and archaeological finds remain excluded.
To start the process, countries must submit documents to a joint scientific committee. These must prove that the artefact was acquired illegally. After that, France’s top administrative court, the Conseil d’État, reviews the case and grants final approval.
Although the law speeds up decision-making, experts caution that returns will still take time. Senator Catherine Morin-Desailly noted that each object requires a full legal, historical, and scientific review. She believes this step remains essential for accuracy and fairness.
Senator Pierre Ouzoulias expressed concern about the bill’s pace. He criticized the government for delaying action for years, only to rush the law now. He also warned against using cultural restitution as a political tool. To avoid misuse, he called for an independent scientific body to oversee the process.
France has returned only a few artefacts since Macron’s 2017 speech in Burkina Faso. One recent case involved a sacred drum taken from the Ebrie tribe in Ivory Coast in 1916. In contrast, Germany has returned over 1,000 items to African countries.
Many African nations—such as Senegal, Chad, Algeria, and Ethiopia—have asked for the return of tens of thousands of objects. They hope this new legal tool will make the process faster and more transparent.
The French Senate is expected to vote on the African Art Return Bill on September 24. If passed, the law could mark a major shift in France’s approach to colonial-era restitution. Still, its success depends on careful implementation and real political will.
