Nubian Artifacts Are Under Threat In Sudan

 

The civil war in Sudan has brought Nubian artifacts under threat. Thefts, looting, and damage to historical objects is becoming widespread. The criminal activity mostly comes from the Rapid Support Forces. The reasons have ethnic overtones. The RSF was formed from the Janjaweed militia, which were mostly Arabs. The Janjaweed were fighting to end rebellion in Darfur. The RSF has been reported to have assistance from the United Arab Emirates. Throughout history there have been Arab attempts to wide out African history. West Asian invasion has ancient roots in Nile Valley civilization. The RSF has a goal of establishing an Arab state and part of this involves the destruction of  Sudan's ancient  treasures. Sudanese Arabs, Nubians, Zaghawa, Beja, and Nubians form the population of the country. Sudan as a rich and unique history, which needs to be preserved. The attacks on the Sudan National Museum are a major concern. The Sudan National Museum was established in 1959 for preserving antiquities. At the time, flooding from Egypt's Aswan Dam put artifacts and monuments  at risk. The Sudan National Museum became a sanctuary for cherished relics. The Sudan National Museum has an estimated 100,000 artifacts. Now, the collection is at risk of becoming prizes of war or being sold by the RSF. The Sudanese Armed Forces are not focused on securing artifacts. Their primary objective is to take back the areas  that the RSF is in control of. Sudan cannot allow the history of Kerma, Kush, and Meroe to be erased. Sudan should consider shipping artifacts to other African nations. Securing museums and the artifacts needs to be part of  the strategy the Sudanese Armed Forces. Archeologists, historians, and academics need to document all the information they can to prevent it from becoming lost.