Government Receives Support from Italy and UNESCO for National Museum Rehabilitation

Ministry of Culture, Information, Antiquities, and Tourism received support today, Monday, from UNESCO and the Italian Development Agency, allocated to fund and provide the necessary equipment for the maintenance and rehabilitation plan of the Sudanese National Museum. The handover took place in the presence of the Undersecretaries of the Ministry, Dr. Graham Abdel Qader and Ms. Sumaya Al-Hadi.

The Minister of Culture, Information, Antiquities, and Tourism, Khaled Al-

Eisir, affirmed the Ministry’s continued commitment to implementing its plan aimed at protecting and preserving antiquities and heritage, and safeguarding national identity. He pointed out that cultural heritage represents a solid foundation of identity, which militia attempts to erase have failed to do.

The Minister explained that the joint efforts of the security services, the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, and the ministry staff have resulted in the recovery of a large number of looted artifacts during the past period, despite the war. He expressed his satisfaction with the constructive partnership with UNESCO and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and appealed to international and regional institutions to assist Sudan in its recovery and cultural reconstruction efforts.

For his part, the Director of the UNESCO Office in Sudan, Ahmed Junaid, reiterated the organization’s commitment to continuing its support for efforts to protect national heritage and maintain the museum to keep pace with global developments. He noted the training of 500 government employees to raise awareness about protecting antiquities and combating smuggling, and expressed his hope that this work will continue so that the museum becomes a hub for revitalizing tourism.