The French National Assembly’s Cultural Affairs Committee has approved a landmark bill aimed at streamlining the restitution of cultural property looted from Africa during the colonial era. Moving away from the previous requirement for case-by-case legislation, the new framework allows restitutions to be ordered by ministerial decree, provided they fall within the 1815–1972 timeframe. This advancement follows years of debate sparked by President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 pledge and the influential 2018 Sarr-Savoy report.
This legislative shift represents a significant evolution in France's approach to its colonial history and the principle of 'inalienability' regarding national collections. By creating a general legal framework, France seeks to depoliticize the return of artifacts and utilize cultural diplomacy to mend relations with African nations. However, the bill's careful avoidance of explicit 'colonial' terminology highlights the ongoing domestic tension between historical accountability and the desire to avoid national 'repentance.'