France Returns Historic Sword to Senegal in Cultural Restitution Ceremony

On November 19, 2019, France returned a significant sword to Senegal, which once belonged to al-Hajj Omar Saidou Tall, a prominent West African political and religious figure. During a ceremony in Dakar, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe handed the sword to President Macky Sall, with cultural figures and Tall's descendants in attendance. Philippe highlighted the sword as a representation of a vital historical moment for Senegal and its neighbors, as well as a testament to the friendship between the two countries. This action follows a report by scholars Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy, which recommended the return of cultural items taken during colonial times. Additionally, President Emmanuel Macron had previously committed to returning 26 art pieces to Benin, although they have yet to be sent. The Open Society Foundations, established by George Soros, recently pledged $15 million to support the repatriation of African artifacts from the colonial era.