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French parliament votes to ease returns of looted art to ex-colonies
France's parliament definitively adopted legislation to simplify the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin. The move comes as President Macron plans a new Africa tour, following earlier pledges and restitution steps.
Why It Matters
The decision signals a formal shift in how France handles colonial-era restitution, potentially accelerating returns and shaping post-colonial memory and dialogue with former colonies.
Timeline
7 Events
Macron set to embark on Africa tour
May 7, 2026
Culture Minister Catherine Pegard called the move historic, and Macron was set to embark on a new tour of Africa on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Senate backs bill; legislation adopted
May 7, 2026
The upper house gave unanimous backing and lawmakers definitively adopted the legislation to simplify returns of looted artworks, allowing the government to restore works without piecemeal votes and targeting assets acquired between 1815 and 1972.
Lower house backs restitution bill
May 6, 2026
The French Parliament's lower house gave unanimous backing to the bill to ease the return of looted artworks to ex-colonies.
Talking drum returned to Ivory Coast
March 2025
The talking drum was returned home in March 2025.
Parliament approves return of talking drum to Ivory Coast
2025
In 2025, France's parliament approved the return to Ivory Coast of a 'talking drum' that colonial troops took from the Ebrie tribe in 1916.
France adopts two framework laws on restitution
2023
France adopted two framework laws to return objects in two categories: one for goods looted from Jewish families during World War II, and another for the repatriation of human remains from public collections.
Macron pledges to return African cultural heritage within five years
2017
In Ouagadougou, shortly after taking office in 2017, President Emmanuel Macron vowed that France would never again interfere in its former colonies and promised to facilitate the return of African cultural heritage within five years.