France has commenced the return of approximately 3,500 archaeological artefacts to Ethiopia, decades after they were taken to Paris for research.
The ceremonial handover began on November 30, 2024, at the National Museum in Addis Ababa. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot presented three prehistoric tools two stone axes and a stone cutter to Ethiopia's Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.
These artefacts, which date back between 1 and 2 million years, were discovered during extensive excavations near the Ethiopian capital.
The artefacts are currently stored at the French embassy in Addis Ababa, with plans for the full collection to be transferred to the Ethiopian Heritage Directorate by December 3.
Laurent Serrano, cultural advisor at the French embassy in Addis Ababa, clarified the nature of this event, stating, "This is a handover, not a restitution, in that these objects have never been part of French public collections."
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