Rabat, April 21 -- The traditional dish of couscous continues to span borders and boundaries in North Africa, where conflicts divide. Couscous remains at the foundation of food culture in Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia. Recently, the four North African countries overcame their differences and came together in a joint bid to give UNESCO heritage status to couscous.

Joining forces to preserve couscous

UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list highlights the world's most treasured cultural practices. In 2016, Algeria announced a bid to get protected status for couscous, which sparked outrage from Moroccans who felt the dish was theirs as well. This time around, four ambassadors, from Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia, j...