Ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) have approved a joint framework to accelerate the return of African cultural heritage to its countries of origin.

The decision was reached at a high-level ministerial meeting held in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday, ahead of the official launch of the West African Arts and Culture Festival (ECOFEST) on Sunday, 30 November 2025.

The ministerial session followed extensive deliberations by cultural experts from member states, who examined gaps, priorities, and opportunities for strengthening the region’s cultural governance.

During the meeting, ministers endorsed a set of recommendations centred on the implementation of the ECOWAS Action Plan 2027–2031 for the restitution of cultural property.

The approved recommendations addressed several pressing issues, including the progress made by member states in negotiating the return of artefacts, the persistent obstacles encountered in restitution processes, and the current state of national cultural policies and institutions responsible for heritage management and the creative industries.

Ministers further emphasised the importance of forging stronger partnerships with international organisations, donors, civil society actors and cultural networks to advance West Africa’s cultural agenda.

They underscored that coordinated regional action remains crucial in ensuring that African cultural treasures, many of which were taken during the colonial era, are preserved, reclaimed and reintegrated into national heritage collections.

The meeting set the tone for ECOFEST 2025, which is expected to bring together artists, policymakers and cultural practitioners from across the region to celebrate West Africa’s rich artistic traditions and reaffirm commitments to cultural renaissance and identity.