Algeria slips a photo of Morocco’s Ksar Aït Ben Haddou into an official video

The Algerian Ministry of Defense recently released a promotional video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing Algeria’s landscapes and architectural heritage. However, one sequence in the video features Ksar Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Morocco. This inclusion has sparked strong outrage among Moroccan internet users, who accuse Algeria of yet another attempt at cultural appropriation.

#وزارة_الدفاع_الوطني pic.twitter.com/K8g9gmsmi7

— وزارة الدفاع الوطني الجزائرية (@mdnGovDz) February 21, 2025

Ksar Aït Ben Haddou, located in the province of Ouarzazate, is a striking example of traditional pre-Saharan Moroccan architecture. Renowned for its earthen structures and winding alleys, this historic site draws tourists and filmmakers from around the world each year.

This is not the first time elements of Moroccan heritage have appeared in Algerian productions without acknowledgment of their true origin. Moroccan internet users have voiced their frustration over these practices, viewing them as an attempt to appropriate Morocco’s cultural heritage.

The controversy comes amid already tense relations between the two neighboring countries, where cultural and heritage issues remain particularly sensitive.