Morocco’s delegation to UNESCO says it was insulted by Algerian delegation during Africa Week

Morocco’s delegation to UNESCO accused individuals linked to the Algerian delegation of verbally targeting Moroccan participants and disrupting cultural activities during Africa Week celebrations at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, amid renewed tensions over Moroccan heritage recognition.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO said Moroccan civil society representatives participating in events dedicated to Moroccan heritage and identity were subjected to “insults and provocations” during the May 20 celebrations.

The delegation said the incidents formed part of what it described as a growing pattern of hostility following UNESCO’s inscription of the Moroccan caftan on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2025 in New Delhi.

The delegation stated that the Algerian representation must bear full responsibility for these actions. According to the communique, such provocations have systematically multiplied following the successful inscription of the Moroccan Caftan on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in New Delhi back in December 2025.

“These actions, which have become systematic, reflect a genuine obsession toward Morocco, its plural history and its cultural influence, which are recognized on an international scale,” the statement read.

The representation emphasized that Morocco’s national heritage remains historically documented and widely recognized by competent international bodies.

The delegation firmly rejected what it termed “opportunistic attempts at falsification or appropriation,” noting that such maneuvers can neither alter historical facts nor weaken the deep attachment of the Moroccan people to their ancestral legacy.

Morocco further condemned the politicization and instrumentalization of cultural spaces that are originally designated for international dialogue and cooperation. The delegation stressed that attempting to fuel sterile controversies to serve narrow political agendas stands in direct contradiction to the core values of UNESCO.

The communique reiterated Morocco’s calm and responsible commitment to working alongside its African and global partners to preserve, value and transmit the diverse tapestry of African cultural heritage.

The delegation concluded its statement with a direct appeal to UNESCO, urging the international organization to strictly enforce its principles regarding ethics and cultural integrity, and to keep its spaces completely insulated from political manipulation or historical distortions.