Algeria, United States Deepen Cultural Heritage Partnership Amid Expanded Anti-Trafficking Cooperation
BY Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers — Algeria and the United States have moved to deepen bilateral cooperation on cultural heritage protection through a new phase of institutional coordination focused on preservation, digitisation and the fight against illicit trafficking of antiquities.
The initiative follows the 2024 renewal of a bilateral memorandum of understanding on the protection of cultural property, reaffirming the shared commitment of Algiers and Washington to safeguarding Algeria’s historical heritage and strengthening mechanisms against the illegal trade in cultural artefacts.
As part of the initiative, the U.S. Embassy in Algiers hosted a high-level American delegation of cultural heritage specialists drawn from leading institutions including the Smithsonian Institution, the Rochester Institute of Technology, the American Numismatic Society and the Archaeological Institute of America.
The visit culminated in a conference held at Palace of Culture Moufdi Zakaria under the theme “Algerian-American Cooperation in the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage,” bringing together Algerian and American experts, government officials, museum curators, archivists, researchers and representatives of security institutions.
Discussions focused on strategic areas including the digitisation of heritage collections, archaeological site protection, archive preservation and combating illicit trafficking networks targeting cultural property.
Speaking during the conference, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Mark Schapiro described the initiative as “an important stage” in bilateral relations, stressing that the renewed agreement reflects a shared determination to strengthen cultural protection mechanisms.
Schapiro also underlined the security dimension of illicit antiquities trafficking, warning that organised criminal groups and terrorist networks increasingly exploit the illegal trade in cultural objects as a source of financing. He highlighted Algeria’s strategic role in counterterrorism and organised crime prevention efforts across Africa.
Alongside the conference, the American delegation conducted a series of field visits to major Algerian cultural and scientific institutions, including Cherchell Archaeological Museum, National Centre for Research in Archaeology, Tipaza Roman Ruins, Bardo National Museum and the National Library of Algeria.
The programme also highlighted ongoing bilateral projects including support for the preservation of the Mausoleum of Imedghassen, the development of the anti-looting digital platform “Turathi,” regional anti-trafficking initiatives and the establishment of Algeria’s first heritage digitisation laboratory at the Bardo Museum.
During meetings with Algerian cultural stakeholders, American experts Sarah Reynolds Anderson Loudin of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and Nathan Elkins, Deputy Director of the American Numismatic Society, praised the depth and diversity of Algeria’s historical heritage.
The two specialists described Algeria as a major historical crossroads whose Numidian, Punic and early Islamic heritage remains insufficiently explored within international academic research despite its central importance to Mediterranean history.
They also emphasised that the current mission was designed primarily as a listening and consultation process intended to identify the priorities of Algerian institutions before defining future collaborative projects, reflecting what they described as a more balanced and participatory model of cultural cooperation.
Elkins further stressed the scientific importance of ancient coins and archaeological discoveries in reconstructing patterns of trade, military movement and social organisation across ancient civilisations, arguing that Algeria’s archaeological wealth offers significant untapped research potential.
Both experts highlighted digitisation as a strategic priority for expanding access to heritage collections, facilitating scientific collaboration and modernising museum experiences through immersive and interactive technologies.
The visit concluded with both sides expressing support for expanding long-term cooperation in heritage preservation, research, training and technological innovation, within the framework of broader Algerian-American cultural relations.
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