“Khartoum is free, it’s done,”
On March 26, 2025, Sudan’s army announced the recapture of Khartoum, a key stronghold of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This marked a major shift in the insurgency and conflict that started nearly two years ago and a step toward restoring stability in the capital city. It also raises important questions about the future of Sudan’s cultural heritage, spanning ancient civilizations from Pharaonic and Kushite eras to Christian and Islamic Periods — much of which has been caught in the crossfires.
Located at the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile, Khartoum is a city rich in history. As Sudan’s capital, it is also home to many of the country’s most significant cultural institutions, including at the Sudan National Museum and the National Records Office. But like many places caught in conflict, its rich cultural heritage has faced immense risk, with sites across the country suffering damage, destruction, and looting. The National Museum has been occupied and looted, with tens of thousands of artifacts stolen. The Omdurman Old Market was burned down in fighting, and the Mohamed Omer Bashir Center for Sudanese Studies, which contained critical historical records, was destroyed.
This is not collateral damage. The erasure of Sudan’s cultural identity is a calculated element of the conflict, a form of cultural violence designed to dismantle social cohesion and obliterate historical continuity (Hamilakis, 2009; Shaw, 2019). History has shown us similar patterns across time, from the Napoleonic Wars to World War II, to the Iraq War, to conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. Each time, we have pledged to learn from the past, vowing to prevent these tragedies from happening again. And yet, Sudan’s crisis has exposed challenges in the global response to cultural heritage destruction.
Despite heroic efforts on the ground, the existing frameworks for protecting cultural heritage have struggled to keep pace with the crisis. Less than six weeks after the fighting began, amidst chaos and without access to the capital, the National Corporation of Antiquities and Museums in Sudan (NCAM) convened an emergency response workshop. In July of 2023, they convened again with ICCROM First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR) and UNESCO. These workshops led NCAM to establish three key bodies: an Emergency Response Committee, along with a Steering Committee and Financial Committee.
With this structure in place, the committee began meeting bi-weekly, outlining strategic plans, intervention priorities, and funding proposals, drawing on lessons learned from Syria and Iraq. And they started taking action. Just some examples: They created a risk register for archaeological and heritage sites in Sudan, working with regional missions and museums to assess and prioritize needs. They reached out to donors at the national, international, and multilateral level. NCAM appointed an official spokesperson to be the main channel for publicity and media presence, ensuring Sudanese voices guided decision-making and reporting narratives.
Yet, nearly two years later, more meaningful support is still needed. The Sudanese Heritage Protection Initiative has received $100,000 for necessary work, but estimates that $11.8 million is required for urgent heritage protection underscoring the glaring inadequacy of international engagement. While there has been some media attention, Sudan’s cultural crisis deserves greater visibility in English-language outlets, especially compared to other global conflicts. Many international partners have offered training opportunities—recognizing the expertise already in place, the next crucial step is providing tangible support to put that knowledge into action.
Sudan’s case underscores the challenges in the framework of the global response to cultural heritage destruction, which has too often been reactive, hindered by chronic underfunding, bureaucratic obstacles, and a tendency to sideline local expertise. At the same time, all parties involved—the international cultural community, the Sudanese government, cultural heritage professionals—are stretched thin, with limited funding themselves, understaffed organizations, and competing priorities.
While difficult given the many challenges at hand, the current framework must be reassessed, restructured, and reinvigorated to effectively address the demands of modern conflict zones. However, with the government now back in the capital, there is a unique opportunity to take the first steps by supporting the efforts already underway on the ground.
- Follow. Sudanese experts and institutions have been leading this effort from the start. Their knowledge and priorities must guide responses in order for them to be effective. Places to start include the Ministry of Culture, NCAM, Sudanese Heritage Protection Initiative, and the Sudan Heritage Preservation Council.
- Raise awareness. If you are interested in covering this issue, connect with NCAM or Blue Shield Sudan. Visibility is critical.
- Support. The humanitarian needs in Sudan are immense, but there is an opportunity to include cultural heritage as an essential part of the broader response. Protecting heritage is not just about preservation—it plays a vital role in post-conflict reconstruction and peace building. Often, even small investments can have a high impact, making this a low-cost yet high-return effort that should not be overlooked.
