Sacred heritage threatened, Sudan's ancient kingdom of Kush at risk

The nine-month-long conflict between rival generals in Sudan has now reached the UNESCO World Heritage Site housing the remnants of the ancient Kingdom of Kush, raising concerns about the preservation of its rich historical treasures.

Late on Tuesday, the Regional Network for Cultural Rights sounded the alarm, condemning the incursion by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary forces under General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, onto the sites of Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra.

These sites, located in the northern River Nile state, have become battlegrounds in the ongoing conflict between RSF forces and troops loyal to Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since April of the previous year.

This incident, occurring on Sunday, marks the second time in recent months that fighting has erupted at these religious sites, according to the NGO.

State authorities reported an RSF incursion, repulsed by the air force, asserting that “calm has returned” without specifying any potential damage to the cultural sites.

The Regional Network for Cultural Rights expressed deep concern, citing “reliable sources, images, and videos posted on social networks showing fighting between the army and the RSF, which probably exposed the sites to vandalism, destruction, looting, and theft.”

Among the endangered locations is the Island of Meroe, approximately 220 kilometers (137 miles) from Khartoum, characterized as “the heartland of the Kingdom of Kush” by UNESCO.

The island boasts pyramids, temples, and dwellings that date back thousands of years, showcasing the ancient civilizations of Sudan, which constructed more pyramids than their Egyptian counterparts, despite remaining relatively unknown.

This World Heritage Site, situated between the Nile and Atbara rivers, reflects an ancient civilization that assimilated cultural traits from Pharaonic Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The potential threat to these archaeological wonders is significant as the conflict continues to escalate.

As the war’s toll rises, with over 13,000 reported casualties by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, and more than seven million people displaced according to the United Nations, the international community watches with growing concern as Sudan’s cultural heritage hangs in the balance.