Historians and museum curators in Sudan have accused the Rapid Support Forces of targeting the country’s rich cultural heritage by looting museums and stealing priceless artifacts, which are then reportedly sold to finance military operations, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums estimated the value of the looted treasures since the outbreak of war three years ago at around $150 million.
According to Sudanese officials and satellite imagery, the stolen artifacts were transported by trucks to the southern and western borders, where they are smuggle
In March 2025, staff from the antiquities sector were able to enter the museum for the first time in two years after the Sudanese army regained control of central Khartoum. What they found was devastating, with extensive destruction affecting invaluable exhibits.
The greatest loss was the “Gold Room,” which once housed irreplaceable items—pure 24-karat gold artifacts, some dating back nearly 8,000 years—representing a profound loss for Sudan and humanity as
a whole.
