The Ethiopian Heritage Authority is on a major mission to reclaim artifacts taken from the country. Director General Abebaw Ayalew stated that the Authority is actively working to track down and return valuable items that were smuggled out over the years.

The Authority's strategy is comprehensive and includes several key components. A crucial step has been submitting a detailed document listing the most important missing artifacts to UNESCO as evidence. This move provides a formal basis for their repatriation claims.

Abebaw  highlighted that their efforts over the past five years have already yielded significant results. Many artifacts have been returned, with some individuals willingly giving them back and others being repatriated through diplomatic negotiations.

For items that surface at international auctions, the Authority uses legal measures to halt the sale. This has proven successful, with several key items being stopped from auction and returned home in the last Ethiopian calendar year (2017 E.C.). These include the Armor of Emperor Tewodros, the Mantle of Ras Desta Damtew, and the Ethiopian Order of Star. The National Heritage Repatriation Committee plays a critical role in these successes.

Beyond recovering items, the Authority is also focused on protecting future generations of heritage. Efforts are underway to register new and symbolic natural and cultural sites with UNESCO, ensuring they meet international standards for recognition.

According to ENA, a document is currently being prepared to register a variety of heritages, including the Al-Nejashi mosque, the Coffee ceremony, Waza (Zumbara), Agew Feresegna, Halaba Sera, and Enset. Abebaw reaffirmed his commitment to diligently work on registering both national and public Ethiopian heritages.