France launches the "Virtual Museum of Khartoum" project to protect Sudanese heritage.

October 13, 2025 (PEN) The French Embassy in Sudan, in collaboration with the French Section of the General Directorate of Antiquities in Sudan and the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, announced the launch of a new project within the France Team Fund (FEF-R) program.

The project was titled "The Virtual Museum of Khartoum: Archaeological Collaboration by Showcasing the Collections of the Sudanese National Museum."

According to the embassy, the project comes amid the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan since April 2023, which has severely damaged archaeological heritage. Several museums, including the Sudanese National Museum in Khartoum, have been subjected to raids and looting.

According to the embassy, the project aims to protect Sudanese heritage and enhance its sustainability by creating a digital version of the National Museum's collections, allowing them to be accessed online. This represents a major step in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property.

The project also seeks to train and develop the skills of Sudanese and international cadres in the fields of digital preservation, management of archaeological collections, and scientific research, thus enhancing cooperation between cultural institutions in both countries.

According to the embassy, the virtual museum will provide digital access to the national archaeological collections for researchers, museum curators, archaeologists, students, and the public interested in the Nile Valley's heritage, which remains relatively unknown until now. The organizers described the move as a long-term investment in preserving Sudan's cultural memory.