Safeguarding Knowledge and Memory: Academic and Heritage Efforts Amid Sudan’s Conflict
- sasa2147
- Aug 22
- 10 min read
By Laura Rovedo
Once a symbol of Sudan’s rich history, the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum now lies in ruins: its halls looted, artifacts stolen, and temple shelters damaged. As Sudan’s conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its third year, it has left nearly 150,000 dead, displaced 12 million people, and pushed 25 million into experiencing extreme hunger.
The war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 has devastated not only lives and cities but the foundations of Sudan’s cultural memory. The destruction of the country’s cultural heritage is not just collateral damage; it represents what many Sudanese scholars and officials describe as a targeted erasure of history.
The Sudan National Museum and the University of Khartoum: assessing the damage
Inaugurated in 1971, the Sudan National Museum included the two story museum, laboratories and the headquarters for the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM). Facing the artificial lake in the garden were also special shelter structures created to protect the temples of Buhen, Kumma, and Semna West.
A point of pride, the museum housed more than 100,000 artifacts from various sites that were representative of the entire range of Sudanese history: from the Palaeolithic to the Kingdom of Kerma, from the kingdom of Kush to that of Meroe, from Medieval Makuria to the Islamic Period. Many of these objects were salvaged during the UNESCO Nubian campaign started in the 1960s, which rescued sites threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
Before the war the museum had begun its first complete rehabilitation, with plans to reopen by mid-2023; the project was halted with the beginning of the conflict. Just a month into it, satellite images confirmed damage to the structures. By 2024, trucks were seen hauling crates of artifacts out: UNESCO called for compliance to the humanitarian law that forbids damaging, looting and using cultural propriety for military purposes.
The extent of the damage became clear only when the SAF was able to re-establish control over Khartoum between April and May 2025. Photographs and videos showed extensive damage: the roofs covering the temple shelters were broken, monuments were used for target practice, human remains were damaged, glass cabinets destroyed and the collection looted. Only the temples and a few statues remain, including one of the Kushite king Taharqa (690 - 664 BC). UNESCO requested to compile lists of stolen objects; they also implemented emergency measures like the securing and digitalization of the collections of five archaeological museums, including the Kerma Museum and the Jebel Barkal Museum.
The full extent of the damage is still unclear: a specialist team was sent to visit the site, collect information and document the situation in a full report, which is now still being completed.
The destruction didn’t stop at cultural heritage. Sudan’s universities and their historical buildings, especially in Khartoum, have been severely damaged or rendered inaccessible. Despite the resilience of professors and students that were able to attend online lectures and exams, the lack of access to libraries, laboratories, research facilities and collections created huge obstacles. Entire research seasons and opportunities of fieldwork for archaeology students of antiquities were also lost.
A conversation with Sara Mohammed Mamon Ahmed and Prof. Francesca Iannarilli
SASA had the opportunity to discuss the current situation in Sudan in a joint interview with Sara Mohammed Mamon Ahmed, a PhD student and lecturer from the University of Khartoum currently residing in Italy as a Visiting Student thanks to the Erasmus+ project, and Francesca Iannarilli, Adjunct Professor of Egyptology at Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Field Director of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Sudan at Jebel Barkal.
Sara’s research focuses on a geoarchaeological study of Paleolithic lithic tools from the El Ga’ab Depression, west of Dongola, aiming to shed light on early human settlement patterns and the relationship between prehistoric communities and their environment.
Q: What’s the state of the University of Khartoum? What are the difficulties and limits for Sudanese students during the war?
Sara: At my university everything came to a halt at the beginning of the war, when most staff and students focused on leaving the capital to find safety in other countries or Sudanese states. I was unable to leave and I have been living in Omdurman, one of the areas that were most affected. It was almost impossible to concentrate on any academic activity. After a few months, the university resumed limited online activity through the use of WhatsApp, Google Meet, and a Moodle platform, starting with undergraduate level classes and exams. Despite the war, around 4,000-5,000 students successfully earned their bachelor degree, showing immense resilience and determination. As for postgraduate studies, the university remained inactive for a longer time, resuming activities only in November 2024. Although some resources could occasionally be found online, connectivity was a major issue: by July and August 2024, internet access was off across all of the country.
Sara found a temporary academic refuge in Italy from February until September 2025. This opportunity was gained thanks to the efforts of Prof. Francesca Iannarilli. Together with the former Egyptology professor at Ca’ Foscari, Emanuele Ciampini, she has a long-standing involvement in excavations at Jebel Barkal (modern Karima, Sudan) where the Italian mission, active since the 1970s, has been investigating the royal district of ancient Napata, a major religious and ceremonial site of the Kingdom of Meroe and, previously, of Kush.
Q: How did this collaboration begin? Are there future projects related to it?
Professor Iannarilli: I found the call for applications and eventually the department was awarded the grant. The project officially started only one year ago, though it was originally planned to run from 2023 until 2026, a three-year period. Unfortunately, due to the situation in Sudan, the start was delayed. This year, Sara and Prof. Nuha Abdel Hafiz joined us. Next year, two more students are expected to join the exchange project. Since it supports outgoing mobility as well, I’m also supposed to return to the University of Khartoum, but if that’s not possible, we’re working on an alternative plan to continue teaching in Cairo, where a group of Sudanese students is currently based.
This partnership allowed Sara to access opportunities for academic exchange, receive professional training, and engage with new knowledge and experiences in the field.
Q: How did your exchange project in Italy help you with your research?
Sara: Coming to Italy through this program gave me the opportunity to reconnect with university after two years. I was able to attend classes on Italian language and on the history of Venice. I visited cities around the country, and participated in training and workshops on physical anthropology, archaeozoology and archaeobotany. One of the most important experiences was the training at the LAMA laboratory [the Laboratory for Analysis of the Ancient Materials of IUAV University Venice]; after the destruction of the research facilities at my university, continuing the scientific analysis was impossible. Here, I was able to work again on materials, an experience that inspired major changes in research questions and methodology for my PhD project. I had the opportunity to present my work at conferences, and this allowed me to connect with archaeologists and other experts from Italy and around the world. I was nervous about giving my talks here, but over time I gained more confidence. I was also able to present on topics I’ve never explored before, such as giving a talk about the state of the buildings of the University of Khartoum during a conference in Turin. I also had the chance to assist the mission team in their work on the archival material that was held in the storage rooms of the MVOEM [Museo del Vicino Oriente, Egitto e Mediterraneo] Sapienza University in Rome. They’ve been collecting and digitizing maps, drawing, photos and other documents testifying the history of the university’s excavations in Sudan since 1973. Socially and personally, this experience has been equally important. I found a supportive and diverse community in my residence and at university, with peers from all countries, including other students from Sudan; it helped me feel at home again.
Q: You mentioned the Jebel Barkal Archives Project. What is it and why is it so important for Sudan’s heritage?
Sara: With the war, entire research seasons’ finds were lost. In Sudan, I worked with eight archaeological missions across different sites in the country, but this was the first time I joined a project specifically targeted to the digitization of archival material. It made me understand how the history of archaeology itself evolved and how documenting earlier research can offer new insights. At my department there was a large collection of material that we brought back from excavations, including human remains, but no one had worked on it yet, and it’s now completely gone. The only thing we still have is some documentation, mostly photographs. I really hope the site director will consider launching a similar project in the future, so we can work on what we have left.
Q: What can be done to preserve the heritage and what is the Italian Archaeological Mission in Sudan doing right now?
Sara: Once the war ends, it’s crucial that the missions and universities resume fieldwork. Our department is already working on a new plan to rebuild its capacity, creating new museums and reestablishing laboratories. We are actively seeking collaborations and funding from international universities to support the recovery process. We also hope to strengthen our relationship with all Sudanese museums, expanding cooperation and launching projects to preserve our heritage.
Professor Iannarilli: Our last field excavation was in 2022. Since we cannot currently work in Sudan, staying connected to the NCAM and the Sudanese universities is the only way to continue collaborating and planning for the future. We participate in UNESCO meetings, and we’re working to bring together directors of other international archaeological missions in Sudan to discuss the situation and coordinate the next steps. It’s essential to keep international attention on Sudan alive. Another important effort is the Jebel Barkal Archives project. We hope that one day this material can be included in online and in-presence exhibitions in Italy and in Sudan, or be used to support field training activities for students. The idea is not only to raise awareness but also to generate financial support. We sadly are not supported by any funding at the moment, neither from the Ministry nor from the University, and are struggling; but we’re still trying our best to send small amounts when possible or organize small fundraising occasions to support humanitarian help and ongoing restoration activities in Karima. We also participate in solidarity initiatives and educational projects: for example, I recently contributed to a small children’s book project by SelkInk that features letters from children and stories from Sudan.
Q: What is your wish for Sudan’s future? What do you miss the most?
Sara: What I miss most is working with students and colleagues on the field; they taught me so much. I remember laughing and sharing stories while drinking tea and coffee after the day’s work had finished. I also miss my department, the energy of being at university and my friends. I hope we’ll be able to return and start again soon.
Professor Iannarilli: I miss simple things: eating ta'ameya, sitting for a coffee prepared by a street vendor, looking at the sunset from the top of the mountain. I deeply miss working on the field at Jebel Barkal. I miss Karima and the many friends and colleagues we work with. Sadly, we can’t reach some of them because they don’t use messaging apps. Khalid’s house became our home during the missions: we hope to return one day, resume the work and share beautiful memories with the community of the town. Surprisingly, I also miss Khartoum. For years, it had been just a transit point for us. But I realize only now that I can’t go back that I actually grew attached to it. One place that I’ll miss is the Acropole Hotel. It’s luckily still standing, but it was looted and partially destroyed, and the family fled back to Greece. It’s unlikely they will ever reopen it, but it was a gathering point for generations of archaeologists. I miss that Khartoum, the one that is gone. Another Khartoum will rise, but it will be just different. We both hope for freedom and peace for Sudan, and for a chance to return. We hope that families can be reunited, and that the people that were forced to leave (like professor Nuha, who now temporarily resides in Cairo) can come back and rebuild their life at home. And I hope that us archaeologists and academics can still work together again.
Conclusions and how you can help
The recent events in Khartoum sparked a renewed sense of hope across Sudan. While the situation remains extremely fragile, it marks a significant shift. Damage to cultural heritage is still in an assessment phase, but universities have just recently started to reopen. The news has been welcomed with relief and joy by Sudanese professors and students, including Sara, who have spent more than two years in fear and uncertainty.
Conflict always leaves cultural and academic institutions vulnerable. But heritage is more than objects and monuments: it also represents knowledge, memory and community, and the attack on it often leaves longlasting cultural and generational effects on people and places.
There are several meaningful ways to support Sudan and its academic and heritage sectors in this recovery phase:
Keep your eyes on Sudan! Follow the news and share them to raise awareness;
Donate to local and international organizations that are providing humanitarian relief;
Share resources and expertise with displaced scholars and students around you if possible;
Keep updated on UNESCO and NCAM’s efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage, and learn about Sudan’s fascinating and long history;
Follow and help fund archaeological missions, including the Italian Archaeological Mission in Sudan at Jebel Barkal (on Instagram: @jebelbarkal_italian_mission and on Facebook: Missione Archeologica Italiana in Sudan - Jebel Barkal) to help support their projects, at home and on the field;
Follow, support, volunteer and donate to SASA to help Save Ancient Studies and protect the future of studies and projects in history and archaeology!
Sources
Ahmed, Kaamil (2025, March 31), New images reveal extent of looting at Sudan’s national museum as rooms stripped of treasures, The Guardian.
Booty, Natasha & Chothia, Farouk (2025, July 4), Sudan war: A simple guide to what is happening, BBC.
Center for Preventive Action (2025, April 15), Civil War in Sudan, Global Conflict Tracker.
Copnall, James (2025, April 25), From prized artworks to bullet shells: how war devastated Sudan's museums, BBC.
Egyptology at Ca’ Foscari University, Italian Archaeological Mission in Sudan - Jebel Barkal.
Hussain, Abdallah (2025, August 3), Khartoum universities reopen as students defy war, PressTV.
Modern Sudan Collective, Sudan National Museum.
Morgan, Hiba (2025, April 29), Sudan’s national museum ransacked in war, experts decry loss of artefacts and cultural identity, Al Jazeera English.
Pancin, Federica (2025, April 15), Il Sudan National Museum di Khartoum a due anni dallo scoppio della guerra, Djed Medu - Blog di Egittologia.
Rilly, Claude (2013), The Sudan National Museum in Khartoum. An Illustrated Guide for Visitors, SFDAS.
Scotellaro, Federica (2025, May 21), Interview with Sara Mohammed Mamon Ahmed, PhD student University of Khartoum, Erasmus+ Visiting student Ca’ Foscari, cafoscariNEWS.
Scotellaro, Federica (2025, May 22), Protecting Cultural Heritage During Armed Conflict: The Experiences of Two Visiting Scholars from Sudan to Venice Through the Erasmus+ ICM Project, cafoscariNEWS.
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TRT Global (2025, June 15), Sudan orders universities to reopen in capital Khartoum.
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UNESCO (2025, April 16), Sudan: UNESCO steps up its actions as the conflict enters its third year.