Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Sudanese Archaeologist Races to Preserve Heritage Amid War
A Sudanese archaeologist named Shadia Abdrabo is working hard in France to save her country's ancient treasures.
There's a war in Sudan, and many museums and historical sites have been destroyed or looted.
Abdrabo is trying to create a big list of all the important artifacts and sites in Sudan so that they can be protected and some of them can be brought back if they are stolen.
She is working alone most of the time and it's very difficult, but she is determined to save as much of Sudan's history as she can.
The war has made it very dangerous for the artifacts, and she is worried about what might happen to them in the future.
Sudanese archaeologist Shadia Abdrabo is building an online database of Sudan's archaeological sites and museum collections to preserve the country's heritage amid the ongoing war.
Two regional museums in El Geneina and Nyala were almost completely destroyed, while the National Museum in Khartoum was ransacked, losing an estimated 100,000 objects.
The National Museum held prehistoric pieces, mummies dating back to 2,500 B.C., and royal Kushite treasures, among other valuable items.
UNESCO has raised the alarm on reports of plundering and is working to inventory and protect Sudan's cultural heritage, but the country has not received strong media coverage.
Abdrabo has funding until April 2026 to complete the database, but she worries it won't be enough time, having only completed 20% of the work so far.
- Who
- Shadia Abdrabo, a Sudanese archaeologist and curator from Sudan’s National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums
- What
- Building an online database of Sudan's archaeological sites, museum collections, and historical archives to preserve the country's heritage amid war
- When
- Since April 2023, with funding until April 2026
- Where
- Currently in France, originally from Sudan
- Why
- To preserve Sudan's cultural heritage and track looted artifacts amid the ongoing war between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces
- Archaeologist
- Shadia Abdrabo
- Location
- France (currently), Sudan (origin)
- Mission
- Building an online database of Sudan's archaeological sites and museum collections
- Museums Destroyed
- El Geneina, Nyala, and Khartoum's National Museum
- Artifacts Lost
- Prehistoric pieces, mummies, royal Kushite treasures, and more
- UNESCO Involvement
- Raised alarms, conducted inventories, and trained officers to recognize stolen antiquities
- Funding Duration
- Until April 2026
- Progress
- 20% of the work completed, 1,080 objects recorded for national museums