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Tensions flared between the Moroccan and Algerian delegations at UNESCO’s Africa Week 2026 in Paris, with videos shared on social media showing members of both sides exchanging accusations and briefly scuffling before being separated on Wednesday.
Both delegations blamed the other for provoking the incident, prompting official reactions from Morocco and Algeria.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO condemned what it described as «the unacceptable behavior» of individuals claiming to belong to the Algerian delegation. The Moroccan side said that «Moroccan civil society representatives who had come to showcase Morocco’s heritage, culture, and identity were subjected to insults throughout the event».
? C'est inadmissible ! En pleine célébration de la #JournéeAfrique à l'#UNESCO, des exposantes marocaines ont été lâchement agressées par la délégation algérienne alors qu'elles présentaient notre #CultureMarocaine.
— Salmaa (@Salmaa93710329) May 21, 2026
La violence n'a pas sa place ici. Nous demandons des sanctions… pic.twitter.com/n0kbP06ygg
The Moroccan delegation added that the Algerian side «must assume responsibility» for actions that it said had multiplied since the Moroccan caftan was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 10, 2025, in New Delhi.
For its part, the Algerian side also denounced what it claimed was a «vile attack» targeting the Algerian stand. In a statement released Thursday, the Algerian Embassy in France expressed its «unwavering support» for Algerian exhibitors and warned that it would take «all necessary steps» to protect its citizens and ensure that those responsible for the alleged acts «do not go unpunished».
The latest incident is far from the first clash between Moroccan and Algerian delegations at international cultural events, particularly around heritage elements such as the caftan.
