Across East Africa, criminals are not just exploiting regulatory gaps to siphon public funds and smuggle natural resources, they are also trafficking antiquities—funneling stolen cultural goods into international markets. These crimes undermine security, hinder economic development, and disrupt future generations’ access to cultural heritage.

On July 9, the Antiquities Coalition and Transparency Advocacy, an organization combating transnational organized crime, illicit financial flows, and corruption based in Uganda, convened experts from across East Africa for the first installment of a new webinar series spotlighting the region’s fight against antiquities trafficking and illicit financial flows. The conversation revealed insight into the scale of the crisis and examples of leadership emerging from within the region—despite the uphill fight against corruption, conflict, and weak legal frameworks.

Panelists included Tabitha Agaba, Project Manager at Transparency Advocacy; George Juma Ondeng, Activist and Co-Founder of the Invisible Inventories Programme; and Abdiwahab Ahmed, Founding Director of Hayaan Heritage. Together, they delivered a powerful message: cultural racketeering in East Africa is not just a legacy of colonialism—it is a living threat that continues to rob communities of their cultural heritage.

Speakers emphasized that cultural goods are trafficked like any other illicit commodity—and must be treated accordingly by national and international law enforcement. Law enforcement officers in the region often lack training and awareness about cultural property crimes. Compounding this problem is the region’s limited adoption and implementation of international agreements. 

Local Leaders, Global Relevance

Despite these systemic challenges, regional leaders are stepping up. Tabitha Agaba of Transparency Advocacy in Uganda is working to raise awareness about how the range of illicit flows, including cultural goods, is undermining economic stability and security in the region. She emphasized, however, that this is not just a matter of stolen goods, but stolen heritage.  

George Juma Ondeng detailed the successes of the Invisible Inventories Programme, now compiling data on Kenyan artifacts in Western museums, building a foundation for future restitution efforts and international museum collaboration.  

Abdiwahab Ahdmed of Hayaan Heritage—an organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the rich heritage of Somalia—celebrated the success of these locally-led initiatives and called for more institutional support, public awareness, and capacity building for this work. 

The Road Ahead

So what are the next steps?

• Ratify the 1970 UNESCO Convention: Many countries in the region have not yet ratified the 1970 UNESCO Convention on deterring the illicit transfer of cultural property. This foundational step enables countries to better protect their cultural property and open international collaborations.
• Train law enforcement and customs officials: The law is only as strong as its enforcement. Speakers emphasized the need for national and municipal law enforcement training to broaden awareness of legal frameworks and cultural objects at risk. 
• Build inventories and databases: As seen in Kenya with the Invisible Inventories Programme, knowing what was taken is the first step to getting it back.
• Foster international solidarity: Organizations across East Africa are doing remarkable work—but, as these are transnational crimes, enduring solutions require regional and international cooperation.
  

The Antiquities Coalition commends the leadership of Transparency Advocacy, the Invisible Inventories Programme, and Hayaan Heritage for advancing the fight against cultural racketeering. Their work is a reminder that protecting our shared heritage requires not only policy, but partnership.

As we continue this webinar series, we invite governments, museums, law enforcement, and civil society worldwide to listen, learn, and join in building a future where cultural heritage is protected—not plundered.

Stay tuned for the next installment in our Illicit Financial Flows and Antiquities Trafficking in East Africa webinar series.

For more than two decades, the U.S.–Cambodia Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) has served as a model of how cross-border cooperation can protect vulnerable heritage, keep stolen artifacts out of the U.S. market, and safeguard responsible collectors, dealers, and museums. 

In 2003, the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia and the United States signed this memorandum of understanding, marking a significant step in the global fight against the illicit trade in antiquities. The agreement commits both nations to working together to combat the looting and trafficking of cultural heritage. It builds on emergency import restrictions first enacted in 1999—as Cambodia was recovering from decades of civil war, genocide, and foreign occupation. 

The Antiquities Coalition was proud to join the U.S.-ASEAN Center on June 30 for the panel discussion “Advancing Regional Cooperation to Protect Cultural Heritage: Insights from the U.S.–Cambodia Cultural Property Agreement.” AC Policy Advisor Steve Epstein participated alongside leading voices in cultural heritage protection, including Glen Davis, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center (CHC); Emma Stein, Associate Curator of Southeast and South Asian Art at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA); Annalisa Bolin, Regional Analyst at the Cultural Heritage Center; and Deputy Chief of Mission Oum Socheat of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the United States.

Panelists reflected on how the U.S.–Cambodia CPA has advanced both cultural protection and international partnership. In his remarks, CHC Director Glen Davis highlighted the agreement’s success not only in deterring looting and trafficking, but also in fostering cultural exchange. Since its signing, the agreement has helped facilitate the return of over 145 stolen cultural objects, while also laying the groundwork for educational exchanges, long-term object loans, and joint exhibitions—including an upcoming Smithsonian NMAA collaborative exhibition announced during the event.

Deputy Chief of Mission Oum Socheat emphasized the shared responsibility of cultural heritage protection. He praised the CPA for demonstrating that safeguarding heritage is a “two-way street,” and urged that the lessons learned through the U.S.–Cambodia partnership should inspire similar efforts across Southeast Asia, stating,

“The United States also has a responsibility to ensure that its art market is not complicit in the trade of looted artifacts. This lesson may extend across Southeast Asia and beyond. Cambodia’s experience can inform similar efforts in our neighbors’ countries facing loss of heritage through looting and illicit trade.”

Key takeaways: 

• The U.S.–Cambodia CPA is a first step toward a broader regional solution for cultural heritage protection.
  
• The illicit trade in cultural property is a transnational crime and requires a transnational response. CPAs are most effective when adopted across a region, closing backdoor loopholes.
• Regional groups like ASEAN and standard-setting institutions like the Smithsonian NMAA are in full support of these collaborative efforts to protect cultural heritage. 

The Antiquities Coalition applauds the United States and the Kingdom of Cambodia for their sustained work to protect cultural heritage for future generations and looks forward to our continued collaboration in the fight against cultural racketeering. 

Learn more about CPAs, here.

Follow the work of the U.S.-ASEAN Center. 

South and Southeast Asia are emerging as powerful leaders in the global fight against cultural racketeering. Building on existing commitments, such as those by ASEAN, countries across the region continue to shape solutions to protect heritage and support communities impacted by looting and trafficking.

On June 16-18, heritage professionals came together in Lalitpur, Nepal, to issue the Lalitpur Call to International Action for the Return of Stolen Heritage, stating:

“We believe it is our common responsibility to raise the voice of the voiceless communities that have seen and continue to face loss of heritage.”

This powerful statement emerged as the key outcome of the International Conference on the Recovery of Cultural Heritage, hosted by the Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign (NHRC) and Nepal’s Department of Archaeology in Kathmandu. The conference convened global experts, government officials, and advocates to explore how the return of sacred antiquities contributes to justice, healing, and reconciliation for communities affected by cultural plunder.

A theme across the conference: repatriation offers more than the return of stolen heritage—it creates opportunities for collaboration and sparks vital conversations about living heritage. Too often, these discussions are often missing from traditional policy debates, particularly in Asian contexts. Digging to the root of the problem, conference attendees agreed that cultural racketeering is best combated in market countries, where demand is high. 

The Antiquities Coalition was honored to join these important dialogues. Through participation in panel discussions and workshops, AC Director of Programs Helena Arose engaged with partners from across the globe to advance shared solutions, highlight effective policy models, and strengthen cooperation in the fight against cultural racketeering.

The Lalitpur Call to International Action for the Return of Stolen Heritage is a rallying point for all committed to protecting cultural heritage. The declaration deserves to be shared widely—and its principles put into practice. The Antiquities Coalition encourages governments, institutions, and individuals alike to read the declaration and support the vital efforts of the Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign.

Read the Lalitpur Call to International Action for the Return of Stolen Heritage.

The Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign has become a global model for action. Through tireless advocacy, community engagement, and international partnerships, the NHRC has helped secure the return of dozens of sacred objects to Nepal, restoring both cultural treasures and the dignity of the communities from which they were taken. Its work demonstrates what is possible when local leadership and global solidarity align.

Learn more about the NHRC here.