Khartoum: Sudan’s Ambassador to Poland, Ilham Ibrahim, participated in the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the start of archaeological research in Old Dongola. The event was recently held at the Hall and Museum of the Faculty of History at the University of Warsaw, jointly organized by the University of Warsaw, the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, and the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums.
According to Sudan News Agency, in her address, the Ambassador expressed appreciation for the historic relations between Sudan and Poland, embodied in six decades of fruitful cooperation in archaeology and scientific exploration. She praised the achievements of Polish missions since 1964 in collaboration with Sudanese institutions, particularly in Old Dongola, highlighting their major scientific contributions to Nubian studies and the preservation of Sudanese heritage.
Ilham also touched on the current challenges facing Sudanese antiquities, foremost among them the war waged by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, which has resulted in destruction and looting of sites and museums, in addition to the impact of climate change. She called for strengthening international cooperation to safeguard Sudanese heritage through support for universities, empowerment of local communities, and capacity-building for graduates, affirming the importance of continuing and advancing the scientific and cultural partnership with Poland.
The celebration was attended by official and academic figures from both countries, including the Polish State Minister for Science and Higher Education and the Vice-President of the University of Warsaw, where the importance of sustaining Sudanese-Polish archaeological cooperation was reaffirmed.
The event also honored prominent figures who contributed to archaeological research in Sudan, among them Professor Mahmoud Al-Tayib, Professor Stefan Jakobielski, and Professor Magdalena Laptas.
It is noteworthy that cooperation between the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw and the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, which began in the 1960s, has yielded significant discoveries at Old Dongola, Soba, Ghazali, and Faras, and played a key role in the Nubian Archaeological Rescue Campaign (1960-1970). This cooperation stands as a distinguished model of international partnership in safeguarding human heritage.