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Libya Reopens Tripoli’s Red Castle National Museum After 14 Years

Officials frame the UNESCO-backed restoration as proof of state recovery, with full public access scheduled for early 2026.

Overview

  • The museum held a reopening ceremony on December 12 in Tripoli, its first since the 2011 closure following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
  • Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbiebah said the event shows Libya is building its institutions.
  • Renovations launched in 2023 with UNESCO design assistance upgraded the institution to international standards.
  • The 10,000-square-meter galleries present mosaics, sculptures, coins, murals, and ancient mummies from sites including Uan Muhuggiag and Jaghbub.
  • Authorities report 21 artifacts repatriated from France, Switzerland, and the United States, and ongoing talks for returns from Spain and Austria, as most UNESCO-listed sites remain endangered except Ghadamès.