Between Algeria and Morocco, long -standing paternity – Liberation

Couscous, symbol of conviviality? Between Morocco and Algeria, the dish mainly embodies irreconcilable visions, both of which attributing paternity. We no longer count the clashes on the subject, highly flammable, between the two neighbors with more than tense diplomatic relations, against a background of conflict on the Sahara-Western.

New episode of this showdown in recent days: Thursday, June 12, in Parliament, the Algerian Minister of Communication, Mohamed Meziane, said that Morocco had « Awarded this Algerian dish », as reported by several French -speaking local media. Referring to the Caftan, the Zellige, or the popular song, the Minister accused the Cherifian kingdom of« Cultural appropriation » and culinary, a form of « Pillage » In particular conducted during the black decade (1992-2002) according to him. « All ancient historians say that couscous appeared for the first time in history in Algeria », justified Mohamed Meziane, citing « An in -depth study carried out by a French historian at the beginning of the last century », Without giving a precise source.

The two countries had managed to overcome their disagreements not so long ago: couscous was listed as the intangible cultural heritage of one