France Passes Law Making Return of African Art Artifacts Irreversible, Macron Declares

The French Parliament has approved legislation that empowers the government to return stolen African artifacts through executive decree, President Emmanuel Macron announced. The new law streamlines the process for repatriating cultural objects taken during France's colonial period, removing previous bureaucratic obstacles that had slowed such returns. The legislation represents a significant shift in France's approach to colonial-era art restitution, as the country houses thousands of African artifacts in its museums, many acquired during the 19th and early 20th centuries when France controlled vast territories across West and Central Africa.