After the return of the so-called Benin bronzes to Nigeria, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is counting on intensified cooperation with the West African country, which is rich in natural resources.
“Together with the federal states, cities and museums, we are showing that Germany is serious about coming to terms with its dark colonial history,” said the Green politician before she left for a two-day trip to the most populous and economically strongest country in Africa with around 220 million inhabitants.
Baerbock and Roth want to personally return Benin bronzes
The Foreign Minister will be accompanied by Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) and several museum directors. This Tuesday, Baerbock and Roth want to personally return 20 of the Benin bronzes. Most of the valuable panels and sculptures come from British looting in 1897 and were then sold to German museums, among others. So far, more than 1100 of the Benin bronzes from the palace of the then Kingdom of Benin have been found in around 20 German museums.
Baerbock emphasized that the return is a step that is long overdue. Even if this “won’t heal all the wounds of the past”, coming to terms with colonial injustice also opens a new chapter of deepened cooperation. Germany wants to work even more closely with Africa’s most populous democracy, especially in containing the climate crisis. Nigeria is currently still a major emitter of the climate-damaging gas CO2 and an exporter of fossil fuels. The Nigerian government’s plans for an energy transition are all the more important.
At the beginning of her visit this Monday, Baerbock wants to get an idea of the security situation in the north-eastern region of Nigeria, which is threatened by Islamist terrorism. The terror exacerbated the already fragile situation, she explained. At the same time, there is hope that 100,000 fighters from the Boko Haram terrorist militia and their supporters have surrendered since last year.
