The British Army has been told to hand back “looted” treasures from Ethiopia in a growing reparations row.
After defeating an Ethiopian emperor during an 1868 expedition, regiments and corps plundered his fortress capital of Magdala.
The Royal Engineers and Scots Dragoon Guards kept the stolen artefacts that are now stored in their regimental museums.
However, the Ethiopian government will now demand the treasures be returned. They will need to persuade unit veterans and serving officers to hand back the items.
After defeating an Ethiopian emperor during a 1868 expedition, regiments and corps plundered his fortress capital of Magdala
Getty
This comes after The Telegraph revealed that Ethiopian officials were also seeking the return of items which form part of the King’s Royal Collection.
Officials in Addis Ababa may approach the Ministry of Defence for assistance with their campaign.
These demands will form part of a diplomatic move led by the Ministry of Tourism’s Ethiopian Heritage Authority, which will ask for help from the Labour Government to support returns.
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Royal Engineers
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The director of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, Abebaw Ayalew Gella, said: “What was taken from Magdala was not something that was found there accidentally. This is a very well-planned expedition. We call it looting.”
“We are working on what is where, and how we can negotiate.”
The British invaded Abyssinia in 1868 after Emperor Tewodros II took European hostages in anger over a letter not being delivered to Queen Victoria.
Sir Robert Napier led the army to victory at Magdala, where they then looted artefacts.
These museums currently home to a number of artefacts, including shields, swords, drums and chains
National Army Museum
Experts in Ethiopia are now drafting an inventory of the items held in the UK, after which repatriation requests will be made.
While institutions like the British Museum are prevented by law from handing over treasures, collections tied to regiments can return treasures with the approval of trustees.
It is believed that the Royal Engineers Museum, the Royal Artillery Museum and the Museum of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards as well as the National Army Museum will be the ones to face these demands.
They are all currently home to a number of artefacts, including shields, swords, drums and chains.
The push for the return of the treasures comes as part of a campaign planned for 2026 to reclaim all looted artefacts from British collections.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government will be asked to support Ethiopia’s demands, which will include for the Royal Collection of King Charles to hand over sacred and secular artefacts taken from Magdala.