Khartoum, July 1, 2026 (SUNA) — Minister of Culture, Information, Antiquities and Tourism Khalid Al-Eisir met at his office on Wednesday with Head of the UNESCO Office in Sudan Ahmed Junaid Soroush to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation in protecting Sudan’s cultural heritage and assessing damage to cultural sites and museums. The meeting was attended by the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr. Jerham Abdel Gadir. In a statement to SUNA following the meeting, Head of the UNESCO Office in Sudan Ahmed Junaid Soroush said the two sides agreed to support community radio initiatives, combat hate speech, and promote national unity through the activation of community radio services in the near future. He added that the discussions also focused on enhancing cooperation between UNESCO and the Ministry through the implementation of the international conventions ratified by Sudan in 1970, 1995, and 2001, covering measures to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property, facilitate the return of cultural property to its countries of origin, protect underwater cultural heritage, and promote the application of the relevant international legal framework. Soroush said the meeting further reviewed a project to assess damage to cultural institutions and museums, with particular emphasis on training professionals in the cultural sector on modern scientific methodologies for evaluating the extent of damage and determining reconstruction costs, as a basis for developing sustainable and well-informed recovery plans. He noted that the meeting concluded with an agreement to expand cooperation between the Ministry and UNESCO by strengthening the organization’s role in safeguarding Sudan’s cultural heritage and supporting the Ministry in all areas requiring assistance related to cultural heritage protection.BH/BH