Museums and archaeological sites across Sudan have suffered drain of cultural relics, which are either damaged or looted amid the ongoing armed conflicts that have persisted in the country for nearly three years.
The country has been engulfed in a deadly conflict since April 15, 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.
Beyond severe casualties and infrastructure damage, the conflict has been also lethal to the country's cultural heritage.
"Our museum is in a dire situation. Many cultural relics have been looted, while some have been completely destroyed or damaged to various extent. The main building, along with several important structures of the museum, was struck by rockets," said Jamal Al-Abidin, curator of the Khalifa House Museum.
Official data reveal that a total of 22 national museums were damaged or robbed and about 4,000 pieces of cultural relics have been missing in Sudan's conflict.
Al-Nazir Satti, an official with the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism, said that the loss in relics has posed a grave threat to Sudanese culture and people's identity to themselves and their history.
"Many museums have been looted and vandalized, which are among the most serious consequences of the conflict. This devastation threatens to destroy our culture, erase our history, and undermine the Sudanese people's recognition of their historical heritage and identity," said Satti.
Many of the looted cultural relics have been smuggled out of Sudan. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and archaeological experts have repeatedly expressed concerns about the loss of these artifacts and have urged the global art market not to accept relics of unknown origin from Sudan.
"We must hold these relic looters accountable and urge the international community to take actions against the theft and smuggling of these artifacts," said Sabah Al-Khair Muhammad, an archaeological expert.
On Tuesday, the Sudanese government announced that it has recovered 570 pieces of cultural relics. However, due to the impact of war, most museums in Sudan, in the plight of manpower and funding shortage, are yet to reopen. Recovering lost cultural relics and rebuilding museums and other cultural facilities remain a long-term and arduous task for the country.
Sudan conflict results in cultural relics drain
In South Sudan, education is being championed as a foundation for peace, but ongoing conflict and poverty continue to deprive millions of children of the opportunity to learn.
The South Sudanese government said education is crucial to building peace, promoting social cohesion, and equipping young people with skills to resolve conflict.
Some schools, including one in the capital Juba, have even established "peace centers" where students are trained in leadership and peacebuilding. Schools are also playing a role in tackling harmful practices like early and forced marriage.
"We normally inform them that in case they encounter such challenges, you come directly to school, we will be able to support you. Whatever support that is required, is always availed to them," said Chol Reuben Maken, school principal.
Despite these initiatives, the education sector is in crisis. According to UNICEF, South Sudan has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children in the world, with girls making up 75 percent. Over 2.2 million children, more than half of the country's youth population, are not attending school.
The key barriers are poverty and ongoing violence.
"General poverty is a real challenge to many families and therefore access to education becomes less of a priority if you need to feed yourself and cover other basic needs. There are also climate-related events that affect access to education. South Sudan is prone to flooding and it's also prone to heat waves," said Emilie Roy, education chief of UNICEF South Sudan.
The government said it is investing in education as a long-term tool for positive change, stressing that the impact of education goes far beyond academic achievement.
Educated children, officials said, become advocates and peacebuilders who push for equality and challenge harmful practices within their communities, planting the seeds for a more peaceful future.
Still, the challenges are enormous. Many children simply have no schools to attend due to a lack of infrastructure, and where schools do operate, chronic staff shortages and unpaid salaries have left the system struggling.
"My biggest thank you is to my colleagues, the teachers, the teachers of this country that have persevered through all the challenges to make sure that education is progressing and that our kids are taught," said Kuyok Abol Kuyok, minister of General Education.
While UNICEF maintains that education is a primary tool for promoting long-term stability, they also warn that without immediate peace in the country, the opportunity for an education will remain a far off dream for many.
Education seen as peace tool in South Sudan
Education seen as peace tool in South Sudan
