France adopts landmark restitution law for colonial-era cultural items

On April 13, the French parliament enacted legislation aimed at returning cultural artifacts taken from former colonies, honoring a commitment made by President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. This 2023 law outlines a framework for restitution applications, stipulating that items must be demonstrated as stolen, looted, or improperly transferred between June 1815 and April 1972, with military artifacts excluded. Culture Minister Catherine Pégard commended the law, referencing a 2023 report by Jean-Luc Martinez that influenced its creation, while also emphasizing the permanence of French collections. Detractors have noted that the 1815 starting point overlooks earlier looted items. Requests for restitution involve countries such as Algeria, Benin, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Chad, with a national scientific commission set to release annual updates.