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Africa Live this week: 8-14 April 2024 - BBC News Africa Live: UK returns Ghana's looted royal artefacts in loan deal - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Favour Nunoo
BBC News, Accra
The United Kingdom has returned 32 royal artefacts looted from Ghana's Asante Kingdom in the 19th Century. The ruling military junta in Mali has suspended all political activities in the country until further notice.
The royal objects were taken from the Palace in Kumasi during the Anglo-Asante Wars, including the infamous Sargrenti War of 1874. A spokesman, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, said the suspension was motivated by what he called "sterile discussions" during an attempt at national dialogue earlier this year.
They were returned on Tuesday by the British Museum (BM) and the Victoria He said all activities by political parties and "associations of a political nature" have been suspended on the grounds of maintaining public order, in a statement on state television on Wednesday evening.
and Albert Museum (V&A). More than 80 political parties and civil groups recently called for presidential elections "as soon as possible" and an end to military rule.
The 150-year-old, mostly Mali has been ruled by the military since 2022, following a coup.
golden royal regalia, will be on loan for an initial three years and renewable The junta said presidential elections would be held in February but they were postponed, sparking outrage among political groups.
for another three years.
They include 15 pieces from the British Museum and 17 from the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Legal restrictions in the UK have made it impossible to return the artefacts permanently.
The return of the artefacts coincides with the silver
jubilee anniversary of Asantehene Osei Tutu II, the traditional ruler of the
Ashanti people who first started the negotiations in May last
year.
"Gold and silver regalia, associated
with the Asante royal court, will be displayed at the Palace Museum as part of a
long-term loan commitment by the Victoria & Albert and the British
Museum," the Asante Palace said in a statement.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will receive the objects in specially designed Belgian cases in Kumasi, after which the Manhyia Palace Museum will be closed for three weeks for installation works and encasing.
The gold artefacts are the symbol of the Asante traditional authority.
Many of these items will be seen in Ghana
for the first time in 150 years.
They will be on
display and open to the public in May.
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