Sudanese activists have been given British funding to rescue cultural treasures from looting militias.

Museums across Sudan have been raided since the start of the civil war in 2023, and artefacts looted from significant sites have been sold on the illegal art market.

It can be revealed that the British Council, a cultural quango intended to project soft power, has been helping Sudanese activists move and hide their cultural treasures.

A grant of £1.8 million from the tax-payer-funded body had been dedicated to conserving several heritage sites in Sudan before the war broke out, but has since been diverted to help civilian efforts to prevent the pillaging of national museums and historic sites.