Ancient Ennedi cave paintings found in Sahara region of Chad have been vandalised with graffiti. The 8000-years-old artwork has been covered with names in French and Arabic.

Local youths are suspected of being behind the vandalism. The Ennedi plateau was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2016. Thousands of images of people and animals have been painted and carved into the rock surface of caves, canyons and shelters in the area. A team has been sent to the site in north-eastern Chad to assess the damage. The head of the UN’s cultural body in the country stated that the damage to the ancient paintings could be repaired.

(after BBC News & David Stanley)