Preparing couscous in Algeria, as North African countries unit in a bid to get UNESCO heritage status for the popular dishADVERTISING Read moreParis (AFP)Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia on Friday swallowed their differences and presented a joint bid to secure coveted UN heritage status for couscous, UNESCO announced. "It's the first time that four North African countries have come together to file a joint application," Morocco's ambassador to UNESCO Zohour Alaoui told her country's MAP news agency enthusiastically. "Couscous, the catalyst of North African unity," he tweeted. In 2016, Algeria announced a solo bid to win protected status for the dish -- sparking outrage in Morocco. Last year, it emerged that several countries were cooking up a new, joint bid.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 29, 2019 19:52 UTC