Algeria's Minister of Communication, Mohamed Meziane, has reignited the long-running debate over the origins of couscous. Speaking before the House of Representatives yesterday, he accused «the western neighbor» of «stealing» the iconic traditional dish from Algeria. According to Meziane, «all ancient historians agree that couscous, along with its utensils, first appeared in Algeria», though he offered no evidence to support the claim. He also refrained from naming the author of what he described as an «important study» from «the beginning of the last century» that allegedly proves Algeria's national ownership of couscous. He simply noted that the study was written by a «French historian». «This is just one example among many other products whose ownership has been unfairly attributed to the western neighbor», he said. Meziane also claimed, in front of the deputies, that Morocco «took advantage of the black decade (1992–2000) to appropriate symbols of Algerian heritage, including music and architecture». For context, couscous was officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020, following a joint submission by Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and Tunisia. Mohamed Meziane was appointed Minister of Communication in November 2024, replacing Mohamed Laâgab, who held the post for just 13 months.
