On November 30, 2024, France handed over three prehistoric artifacts to Ethiopia in what French officials clarified as a “diplomatic handover” rather than a formal restitution. The ceremony, held at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, was attended by France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Ethiopia’s Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.
The artifacts—two stone axes and a stone cutter—are estimated to be 1-2 million years old and originate from Melka Kunture, a prehistoric site near Addis Ababa excavated by French researcher Jean Chavaillon. These items were among 3,500 artifacts stored at the French embassy in Ethiopia.
Laurent Serrano, cultural adviser at the French embassy, explained, “These objects have never been part of French public collections,” differentiating the handover from a restitution. The official transfer of the artifacts to Ethiopia’s heritage authority occurred on December 2, marking a step in preserving the country’s historical legacy.
During the ceremony, Barrot also announced the €7 million “Sustainable Heritage in Ethiopia” project, aimed at promoting Ethiopian historical sites through collaborations between researchers, local authorities, and communities. This adds to France’s previous €25 million investment in renovating Ethiopia’s National Palace, now a museum.
France and Ethiopia share a 127-year partnership in archaeology and paleontology. However, frustration persists over the slow pace of broader African heritage returns. Despite French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 pledge to return African artifacts, no concrete plans for addressing colonial-era items in French collections have advanced in the National Assembly.
This development, while significant, reflects the broader challenges in addressing colonial legacies and the repatriation of cultural heritage.
