Algeria derided for misrepresenting Moroccan heritage site

Algeria derided for misrepresenting Moroccan heritage site
Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou (FILE). (Photo: Getty Images)

Algeria has sparked controversy after its Defense Ministry featured Morocco’s Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou in a promotional video, seemingly presenting the UNESCO-listed site as Algerian. The ksar, a historic earthen village in Ouarzazate province, has been a protected World Heritage Site since 1987.

The move has drawn mockery and anger from Moroccans, with social media users accusing Algeria of cultural appropriation. Some called for official condemnation, while others criticized Algeria’s repeated attempts to claim elements of Moroccan heritage. The controversy follows a similar dispute in 2022 when Adidas was accused of appropriating Moroccan zellige patterns for Algeria’s national football team jerseys, forcing the company to acknowledge the design’s Moroccan origins.

This latest dispute adds to ongoing tensions between the North African neighbors, whose relations remain strained over political and territorial issues. The controversy highlights the broader struggle over historical and cultural identity in the Maghreb region.

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