Guinea seeks return of colonial-era remains from France

Guinea has formally requested that France return the skulls and personal belongings of several 19th-century figures who resisted French colonial rule, the Guinean Ministry of Culture told AFP, as per a report by Le Monde newspaper.

The restitution requests, submitted in mid-July, include the skull of Boubacar Biro Barry, the last ruler of the Muslim theocratic state of Fouta-Djalon in present-day Guinea. Barry, along with his son, brother and war chief, was beheaded in 1896 following a battle against French forces. Guinea has requested the return of all four skulls.

Authorities have also sought the repatriation of manuscripts and personal items belonging to Samory Touré, a prominent 19th-century leader who established an empire while fighting both animist groups and French colonial troops. The requested items include his sabre, headdress and boubou tunic, according to Amirou Conte, director of the National Museum of Conakry.

“The Guinean state will take all necessary steps to secure the return” of Barry and his companions’ remains “so that they may rest with dignity in the land of their ancestors,” said Moussa Moise Sylla.

The move comes amid broader efforts by France to address the legacy of colonial-era looting. In September 2025, Paris returned three skulls of victims of colonial-era violence in Madagascar, including one believed to belong to King Toera, who was beheaded by French troops during the 1897 Ambiky massacre.

In May, the French parliament adopted legislation aimed at simplifying the restitution of cultural property taken during the colonial period. The law follows a commitment made by President Emmanuel Macron in 2017 in Ouagadougou to facilitate the return of African heritage.

By Tamilla Hasanova