Aden — In a landmark gesture of cultural restitution, France has officially handed over a rare statue of the King of Qataban along with 15 ancient Yemeni artifacts to the Republic of Yemen. 

The ceremony, held at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris, marks a significant step in restoring Yemen’s looted heritage and strengthening Franco-Yemeni cultural ties.

The centerpiece of the returned collection is a finely carved alabaster statue believed to represent a royal figure from the ancient Kingdom of Qataban, which flourished in central Yemen over two millennia ago. The statue, noted for its intricate detailing and preserved bronze adornments, had circulated through European private collections for decades before being identified by Yemeni researchers and heritage advocates.

The additional 15 artifacts include funerary stelae, inscriptions, and ceremonial objects dating back to the Sabaean and Qatabanian periods. French officials acknowledged that many of these items had left Yemen under unclear circumstances prior to 1970, and their return reflects growing international momentum for the restitution of cultural property to countries of origin.

Yemen’s Minister of Culture praised the move as “a historic moment for our nation’s identity and memory,” emphasizing that the artifacts will be housed in the National Museum of Aden once restoration and documentation are complete.

This handover follows years of advocacy by Yemeni scholars and international experts, amid increasing global scrutiny of colonial-era acquisitions and illicit antiquities trade. France’s gesture aligns with broader European efforts to repatriate African and Middle Eastern heritage items, reinforcing the principle that cultural treasures belong to the communities that created them.