The French Senate has unanimously passed a bill to streamline the process of returning artworks and artifacts looted from former colonies during the colonial era. The legislation, which now moves to the National Assembly for final approval, specifically targets items acquired between 1815 and 1972, aiming to remove legal hurdles that have previously required a separate parliamentary vote for each object's restitution.
This development marks a significant step in President Emmanuel Macron's long-standing effort to reshape France's relationship with Africa through cultural diplomacy. It moves his restitution pledges, made in 2017, toward a permanent legal framework, responding to growing demands from nations like Algeria, Mali, and Benin for the return of their cultural heritage held in French museums.