Dutch returns Ethiopian crown

Addis Ababa, February 20, 2020 (FBC) -Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed met this morning with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, who came to Ethiopia to handover a ceremonial 18th century crown.

The crown had been missing since 1993 and rediscovered in Rotterdam, Netherlands in October 2019.

The Netherlands government facilitated this handover with the belief that it has a duty to restitute this important artifact back to Ethiopia.

The crown was returned home after being hidden in a Dutch flat for 21 years.

Ethiopian Sirak Asfaw, who fled to the Netherlands in the late 1970s, discovered the crown in the suitcase of a visitor and realised it was stolen.

The management consultant has protected it until he felt safe to send it back.

The crown is thought to be one of just 20 in existence. It has depictions of Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit, as well as Jesus’ disciples.

Prime Minister thanked  Sirak Asfaw and the Netherlands government for facilitating its return.