A bill was drafted in 2023 by the previous culture minister, Rima Abdul Malak. However, the Council of State noted a legal flaw that risked restricting its scope, as Le Monde revealed in February. In the eyes of the councilors, the reasons for restitution cited in the text, namely “the conduct of international relations and cultural cooperation,” do not justify a departure from the provisions of French law declaring cultural property entered into public collections by gift or bequest to be inalienable.
In itself, this legal hurdle is not insurmountable. It would suffice to include a “compelling reason” or “overriding general interest” in the bill, as was the case for the framework law on the human remains and property of people looted under the Occupation, passed by Parliament in 2023. But the bill makes no mention of the colonial context, even though the majority of the objects being reclaimed originated there.
UNESCO welcomes the historic signature of the deposit agreement on November 18, 2024 in Paris, France, between the governments of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of France.
