The British Army has become embroiled in a reparations row after facing calls to return “looted” treasures to Ethiopia.
In the aftermath of an 1868 expedition that saw the defeat of an Ethiopian emperor, British regiments and corps ransacked his fortress capital of Magdala.
Among them were the Royal Engineers and Scots Dragoon Guards, who have since kept the items in their regimental museums.
Now, the Ethiopian Government is set to formally request the return of these artefacts, which involves convincing both former and current military personnel to relinquish them.
This follows a report by The Telegraph indicating that Ethiopian officials are also pursuing the restitution of objects currently part of the King’s royal Collection.
Ethiopian representatives may seek the Ministry of Defence’s aid to bolster their efforts.
As part of a diplomatic initiative spearheaded by the Ethiopian Heritage Authority under the Ministry of Tourism, the Labour Government will be asked to support the returns.
Abebaw Ayalew Gella, the director of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, 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 dispute dates back to when the British launched an invasion of Abyssinia in 1868 after Emperor Tewodros II detained European hostages due to Queen Victoria’s failure to respond to his correspondence.
Under the command of Sir Robert Napier, British forces triumphed at Magdala before looting cultural artefacts.
Ethiopian experts are preparing an inventory of artefacts held in the UK, with plans to request their return. This move is part of a 2026 campaign to reclaim all looted artefacts from British collections.
Although institutions like the British Museum are legally prohibited from returning treasures, collections associated with regiments can do so with trustee approval.
The Royal Engineers Museum, the Royal Artillery Museum, the Museum of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and the National Army Museum are expected to face these demands. These museums house shields, swords, drums, and chains.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government will be asked to support Ethiopia’s demands, which include requesting the Royal Collection of King Charles to return artefacts taken from Magdala.
