EthiopiaThe first segment of an Ethiopian national treasure, the ancient Axum Obelisk that was plundered by Italian fascist invaders almost 70 years ago, will return home on Wednesday, a government minister said yesterday.
Ethiopian minister of culture Teshome Toga said the remaining two segments of the 24-metre obelisk, believed to be at least 1,700 years old, were expected to be transported back to the northern town of Axum by the end of the month.
The obelisk was split in three and hauled off when Mussolini's Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1937.
He ordered its seizure from the town of Axum, 850km north of the capital Addis Ababa, and erected it in Rome.
Italy promised in 1947 to return the 200-tonne granite column, a symbol of the dawn of Ethiopian civilisation, but arguments and logistical problems delayed it until November last year when the two countries finally agreed to fly it home.