Emmanuel Macron considers the movement to return works looted during colonization “irreversible”

The movement for restitution by France of works looted during colonization, particularly in Africa, is “unstoppable” after being enshrined in a law, French President Emmanuel Macron assured Monday, promising that it will survive him even if his successor wants “go towards withdrawal”. “I think we have builds something irreversible and unstoppable »launched Emmanuel Macron on the first day of an Africa-France summit in Nairobi, Kenya. “Even if someone arrived in France who wanted to reverse the restitutions, I believe that they would not succeed (…) even all the people who blow bad winds and who want to move towards withdrawal”he added, one year from the end of his presidential mandate. To the latter, he said: ” Too late ! (don’t) get carried away, too late! »he lambasted those who had initially resisted this law, saying that it was “of repentance”.

Also read

Restitution of looted works: China declares itself “impatient” to cooperate with France

Emmanuel Macron promulgated on Saturday, just before this summit, a French framework law facilitating the restitution of works looted during colonization, demanded for years in Africa and adopted unanimously by the French Parliament. This was a promise he made at the start of his presidency in 2017 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Skip the ad

Nine years later, the restitutions can be counted on the fingers of one hand: first in 2020, 26 treasures from Abomey were returned to Benin and the saber of El Hadj Omar to Senegal, then at the beginning of 2026 a “talking drum” confiscated from Ivory Coast since 1916, the « Djidji Ayokwe ». The law should make it possible to facilitate new ones. “This is the start of an exchange (…) Many other restitutions will continue on the basis of this framework law”insisted Emmanuel Macron. And while he leaves doubt about what he will do once he leaves power in a year, he has promised to continue this « combat » alongside Africans, “in other trappings” and with “other clothes”.