Algeria forms committee to oversee UNESCO heritage files

Algeria has created a national committee to oversee its intangible cultural heritage files, formalizing state control over cultural nominations that now serve as preservation efforts and tools of soft power in international diplomacy.

The decision comes as Middle Eastern and North African governments are working harder to document and submit applications for UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. It follows a recent committee meeting that showed increasing competition among countries with similar or sensitive heritage claims.

Algeria’s Arts and Culture Ministry said in a news release late last month that establishing the national committee for the follow-up of intangible cultural heritage files “reflects the great importance” of preserving and advancing cultural heritage in Algeria.

Establishing the committee will allow the Algerian government to “systematically control” how files are prepared and processed, ensuring they are accurate and consistent both nationally and for UNESCO submissions, the ministry said.

The committee will organize the inventory process, set national priorities, standardize how these files are documented in Algeria, and propose legal measures to prevent the loss of intangible cultural heritage.

Government officials said they expect the committee “to contribute to strengthening Algeria's position on the international stage” by showing that the country is “active and committed” to protecting its cultural heritage.

The announcement followed Morocco’s successful bid to have its caftan traditions added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The caftan is a long tunic worn for special occasions and celebrations.

Algeria also sought UNESCO recognition for its own caftan-related heritage, but it did not receive inscription as a standalone element at the committee’s twentieth session.

UNESCO session records and regional media reports show that Algeria raised a procedural request at the opening of the meeting seeking changes to the title and handling of its caftan-related file on the agenda. The committee declined to reopen the agenda, and the request was withdrawn during the session.

However, later in the meeting, UNESCO approved Algeria’s request to amend the titles of two previously inscribed heritage elements to explicitly include references to the caftan, according to the committee’s follow-up decisions.

Coverage in Moroccan media portrayed the outcome as a diplomatic win for Morocco, Africa News reported. Regional outlet Yabiladi reported that Algeria’s agenda move, citing observers, appeared intended to signal to a domestic audience that Algeria had acted to register the caftan before Morocco.

Algerian cultural officials, however, have argued that their heritage files focus on distinct regional garments and terminology and required more precise naming.

In November, Algeria did not secure enough votes for a seat on UNESCO’s Executive Council, while Morocco was elected with distinction, earning 146 votes, alongside Jordan and Egypt.

In recent weeks, the United Arab Emirates publicly promoted its expanding portfolio of UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage elements, casting them as evidence of a long-term cultural strategy and international engagement.

Elsewhere, officials and state-aligned media in Iran expressed frustration over what they described as lags in processing heritage files ahead of the latest UNESCO meeting, citing administrative bottlenecks and prolonged review timelines.

UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage program has expanded steadily over the past decade. Countries are submitting an increasing number of nominations that cover practices ranging from traditional crafts and dress to music and societal customs.

This growth has led to more competition among countries that want international recognition for traditions, many of which are shared across borders.

Although Algeria has already received UNESCO heritage inscriptions in the past, setting up a central oversight committee shows a new focus on better governance and coordination, as heritage claims carry increasing diplomatic and political weight.

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