France has passed a new law making it easier to return cultural objects taken from former colonies, marking a major step in President Emmanuel Macron’s long-running pledge to prioritize the restitution of African art. The legislation creates an exception to the long-standing rule that items in national collections cannot be removed, allowing the return of objects unlawfully acquired through theft, pillage, or coercion between 1815 and 1972. Experts describe the measure as a seismic shift in how France confronts its colonial history.

Until now, restitutions required special laws or presidential intervention, a slow and politically fraught process. The new framework establishes a clear procedure: formal requests must come from governments and be supported by proof that objects were illicitly taken. Applications will be reviewed by a joint scientific committee and a national commission before France’s highest administrative court makes a final decision.

The law follows earlier measures addressing property looted from Jewish families before and during World War Two and the return of human remains. Lawmakers and scholars say the unanimous vote reflects a profound change in public debate, with growing recognition of colonial injustices and a desire to reshape relationships with former colonies through restitution, shared exhibitions, and cultural exchange.