France is taking a major legislative step toward accelerating the return of African cultural heritage looted during the colonial era. A new bill, presented on Wednesday by Culture Minister Rachida Dati, would allow the French government to authorize restitutions by decree, bypassing the traditionally time-consuming requirement for parliamentary approval.
The proposed law, approved by the French Cabinet, comes as part of President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 pledge to make the return of African heritage a “top priority.” Despite this commitment, France has returned only a handful of artefacts, while other European countries like Germany have returned more than 1,000 items to African nations.
“The text I presented this morning to the Council of Ministers is a powerful act and a powerful ambition for peace, for the recognition of memories, and for the renewal of our relations with countries that were wronged,” Dati posted on X (formerly Twitter).
What the Bill Changes
Between 1815 and 1972, during France’s colonial empire, thousands of artefacts were stolen, looted, or acquired through violence. The new law seeks to streamline the process of returning such cultural property to its country of origin, including countries such as Senegal, Chad, Ethiopia, and Algeria, which have lodged extensive claims for restitution.
Under the bill, objects could be returned without requiring individual parliamentary votes, a key bottleneck in past restitution efforts. Instead, France’s top administrative court, the Conseil d’État, would be responsible for approving returns but only under strict conditions.
Restitution Still Faces Bureaucratic Hurdles
Despite the promise of speed, cultural experts warn the legislation may not deliver as quickly as hoped. Each artefact must still undergo a rigorous review by a bilateral scientific committee, providing historical, legal, and provenance evidence that the object was taken illicitly.
“I’m going to be nuanced because for each object it is also necessary to examine the request and to have a scientific, historical and legal study,” said Catherine Morin-Desailly, a member of the French Senate Culture Committee.
Moreover, only artefacts designated for public display qualify. Items such as military relics, public archives, and archaeological finds are excluded from the bill.
Political Pushback and Colonial Reckoning
The bill’s fast-tracking has sparked criticism among some French lawmakers. Senator Pierre Ouzoulias, a member of the cultural commission, accused the government of rushing a complex and sensitive issue after years of delay.
“France has not finished mourning its colonial past. That’s one of the challenges of restitution,” Ouzoulias wrote on X, also calling for an independent scientific body to oversee the process and avoid politicization.
A Long Road Ahead
The bill will go before the French Senate for a vote on September 24, with stakeholders across Africa and Europe watching closely. For African countries that have long waited for justice and cultural reconciliation, the bill represents a potential breakthrough though bureaucratic red tape may continue to stall returns.
Meanwhile, cultural leaders in Africa continue to call for transparency, urgency, and full access to their heritage, as France grapples with how to confront and correct the legacies of its colonial history.
Suomi 
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