France considers law for returning colonial-era artifacts

TheThe French government presented a draft law Wednesday that would enable France to return certain cultural artifacts taken from African countries during the colonial era, reports the Associated Press.

The law, which will go to parliament for consideration, centers on the transfer of ownership of several African objects, including a saber loaned to Senegal last year.

Now-former French prime minister Édouard Philippe presented the sword to Senegalese President Macky Sall in November in Dakar.

French media have described the saber as a historically significant weapon that belonged to associates of El Hadj Omar Tall, a 19th century military leader and Muslim scholar who ruled a short-lived empire.

Read more of this report from the Associated Press.