1935 October

As part of Benito Mussolini’s policy to expand Italy’s sphere of influence, the Italian army invades Ethiopia starting the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.



1937

The Obelisk of Axum is looted as war booty and transported to Rome. It is erected in front of the Ministry of the Colonies.

1947

Article 37 in The Treaty of Peace (a consequence of World War II) obliges Italy to return, at its own expense, all “objects of historical value” looted from Ethiopia within the next eighteen months.

1968 September

Ethiopia’s Parliament passes a strongly-worded resolution on the issue of the obelisk and demands its return.

1992

Nigeria’s ambassador to Ethiopia issues a statement demanding the return of the obelisk. The ambassador of Zimbabwe and the Egyptian Antiquities Authority issue similar statements of solidarity.

1992 May

The Ethiopian Axum Obelisk Return Committee stages a peaceful demonstration in the Addis Ababa Stadium during the half-time interval of a football match between Ethiopia and Nigeria. Their slogans, such as “Our Obelisk is Our Heritage!” and “Let Our Obelisk Come Home!”, are seen by television viewers throughout the country.

1996 February

The Ethiopian Federal Parliament unanimously passes an historic resolution demanding the immediate return of the obelisk.

1996 June

Over 13,000 citizens of Axum sign a petition for the obelisk's immediate restitution. This is the largest petition ever signed in Ethiopian history. “We, the people of Axum, recall that our second largest obelisk was unjustly taken from our city by fascist Italy in 1937.”

1997 April

Visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, to Rome, followed by a joint bilateral declaration: “The Italian Government declares its readiness to shoulder the responsibility for the restitution of the Obelisk to Axum, to be carried out in an operation to be completed by the end of 1997.”

2002 May 27

At around midnight, heavy lightning in Rome strikes the 1,700-year-old obelisk, dislodging masonry from the top of the structure and sending three large pieces of stone crashing to the ground.

2004

Through a bilateral memorandum, Italy accepts to transport the obelisk to Axum airport and to finance its re-erection and restoration.

2005 April

The first section of the Axum Obelisk is transferred to Ethiopia. In anticipation of its arrival, the Ethiopian authorities extended the Axum airport runway and reinforced the bridges it will cross on its journey.

2008 September

The complete returned obelisk is unveiled, accompanied by big festivities and extensive media coverage.

Relevant Sources:

“Return our Obelisk”, http://ethiopiaonline.net/obelisk/.

Pankhurst, Richard, “The Unfinished History of the Aksum Obelisk Return Struggle”, (originally published by Capital Ethiopia, June 13, 1997)

Scovazzi, Tullio, “The Recent Story of the Axum Obelisk”, http://www.unesco.org/culture/laws/pdf/abstract_scovazzi.pdf.