Unlikely Allies: Engaging armed groups for the protection of cultural heritage

Jonathan Rider, Christopher Rider, Ashley Jackson & Pascal Bongard

This findings report brings together the most comprehensive analysis to date on why and how armed groups engage with cultural heritage. Drawing on key informant interviews, case studies from Afghanistan, Mali, Syria and Sudan, and over a year of collaborative research by Aleph Strategies and the Centre on Armed Groups, funded by the British Council. The report explores the motivations of armed groups, strategies for engagement, opportunities for peacebuilding, and the urgent need to build capacity in this overlooked area. It challenges the assumption that armed groups are inherently destructive and offers pragmatic, risk-aware recommendations for cultural actors, humanitarian agencies, and policymakers seeking to navigate the ethical, legal and operational complexities of engaging NSAGs. This paper aims to provide foundational evidence and analysis for rethinking heritage protection in conflict.