In light of increasing terrorist activity and armed conflicts globally, the linkages between terrorism and illicit trafficking of cultural property are a concerning developmentfor regions dealing with conflict and crises, as well as for the international community. Terrorist organizations often target cultural heritage sites, using acts of destruction to help advance their agendas.
Cultural heritage in West African countries is increasingly at risk of looting, destruction, and theft by terrorist and organized crime groups, which is driven by insecurity and growing political instability. In the Sahel, there is evidence of links between terrorism and organized crime in the illegal extraction and trade of antiquities. This surge in the illicit art trade represents a serious threat to the cultural heritage of the area.
The trafficking of cultural property is a complex trans-national issue involving the looting of archaeological sites, the smuggling of artifacts across borders, and their sale to private collectors or museums. This illegal trade is often used by terrorist groups to launder money, fund other criminal activities, and bolster their propaganda by exploiting cultural heritage. The looting of cultural property thus becomes an important source of funding for these groups, which take advantage of the ease of acquiring and circulating these artefacts. This illegal trade, considered the third most significant illicit activity after drug and arms trafficking, is closely linked to other forms of illicit commercial activities and international crime. In regions where terrorist groups operate across porous borders, the trafficking of cultural property poses a serious threat to cultural heritage.
In response to these challenges, UNODC launched a new project on “preventing and countering the nexus between terrorism and organized crime, including illegal trafficking in cultural properties, in Western Africa”, funded by the Government of Italy. Under the framework of this project, a regional workshop was organized in Abidjan on 22-24 October 2024.
The three-day event was attended by representatives from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, including officials from the Ministries of Justice, Finance, Security and Culture. During the sessions, participants explored the linkages between terrorism and the illegal trafficking of cultural properties, focusing on how these issues specifically impact West Africa through the activities of terrorist and criminal groups, especially in the Sahel and coastal countries.
Participants also reviewed specific cases and identified good practices, gaps and needs within the criminal justice response to these threats. Additionally, to enhance their understanding and skills, experts from the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015), the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Command (Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale), INTERPOL, the Geneva Center for Security Sector (DCAF) and UNODC provided specialized presentations.
By the end of the workshop, participants outlined the need for enhancing regional cooperation to effectively identify, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate cases of the nexus between terrorism and trafficking in cultural property. Participants also enhanced their skills on inter-agency coordination, countering the financing of terrorism, and money laundering, exchanging ideas on mechanisms to facilitate cross-border investigations and prosecutions of terrorist cases and illicit trafficking of cultural properties. Finally, they formulated recommendations and developed a roadmap with a view to strengthen cooperation among Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo to better counter the threat of terrorism and organized crime.
Recognizing the trans-national and evolving nature of the terrorist threat, as well as its connections to organized crime, the workshop addressed the significant danger that trafficking in cultural property poses to international peace and security. It offered specialized technical assistance to select countries in West Africa aimed at strengthening their capacities in crime prevention, criminal justice, and rule of law.
The activity was funded by the Italian Government.
