Officials in the United States have returned 921 stolen artifacts to the West African country of Mali on Monday. According to a United States statement, the cache of presumably looted goods first raised suspicion in March 2009; when authorities intercepted an illegal shipment at the Port of Houston on Texas’ Gulf Coast. Listed as replicas, the artifacts initially appeared to be authentic ceremonial and mortuary objects, writes Zachary Small for the New York Times.
On Monday, officials in the United States returned 921 stolen artifacts to the West African country of Mali.
Per a statement, the cache of presumably looted goods first roused suspicion in March 2009, when authorities intercepted an illegal shipment at the Port of Houston on Texas’ Gulf Coast. Listed as replicas, the artifacts initially appeared to be authentic ceremonial and mortuary objects, writes Zachary Small for the New York Times.
The U.S. authorities first returned a handful of the stolen objects to Mali in 2011 and 2012. The two countries share a long-standing legal agreement regarding the protection of Mali’s cultural property.
In 2012, a civil war broke out in Mali, which also delayed the return of the remaining 900 items; according to U.S. officials in the statement. Also, the Ongoing instability most recently, a military coup in may that ousted Mali’s civilian leaders; has also hampered authorities’ ability to regulate the smuggling of cultural heritage items.
Last June, the State Department issued a grant to Mali that financed the repatriation of the 900 objects; and their eventual exhibition in the country. Mohamed Traore, an adviser with the permanent mission of Mali to the United Nations, tells the Times that repatriation negotiations officially resumed this year.
The artifacts will eventually go on display in Mali’s museums; including the National Museum of Mali in the capital of Bamako, notes Traore.
