ALGIERS – Tuesday, 10 October 2023 (APS) – Algeria’s ambassador to Paris, Saïd Moussi, handed over to the Minister of Culture and Arts, Soraya Mouloudji, the sword of Emir Abdelkader, an archeological artefact of high historical value which was intended for auction sale in Paris, the ministry said in a statement.
The operation is part of the guidelines of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to strengthen the protection of the national cultural heritage, safeguard the collective memory, and the restitution of cultural assets abroad, the source said.
Mouloudji received Monday, at the Ministry headquarters, the Algerian ambassador to Paris who handed her over the sword of Emir Abdelkader, an archeological artefact of high historical value which was intended for auction sale in Paris, France.
It was acquired on October 8, 2023, by the services of the Algerian embassy in Paris in close coordination with the services of the Ministry of Culture and Arts. The latter informed about the intended sale operation through a recently established monitoring committee at the ministry to track and return national cultural assets abroad, the statement said.
The restitution of this archaeological artifact is part of the President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s guidelines who stressed the need to strengthen the protection of the national cultural heritage, preserve collective memory, and to ensure the restitution of cultural assets abroad for their preservation and appreciation.
This 107-cm silver sword dates back to 1808-1883.
This sword alongside its documents will be kept in the national museum collections to be displayed with other recently recovered archaeological and artistic artefacts, thanks to close collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and Arts and various Algerian diplomatic representations abroad.