Benin, a country in West Africa, has blocked the sale of a royal artifact that was stolen by French forces over 100 years ago. The item, a traditional wooden scepter called a “recade,” was supposed to be auctioned off in Paris last Friday, but it was taken off the sale list just before the auction began.

This artifact originally belonged to King Behanzin, the last ruler of the Kingdom of Dahomey (now called Benin). The recade is an important symbol of royal power, representing the king’s...