Boumerdès (Arabic: ولاية بومرداس, Kabyle: Tanebḍit n Bumerdas) is a province (wilaya) of northern Algeria, located in the Kabylia region, between Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou, with its capital at the coastal city of Boumerdès (formerly Rocher-Noir) just east of Algiers.

Boumerdès Province
ولاية بومرداس
Tanebḍit n Bumerdas
Map of Algeria highlighting Boumerdès
Map of Algeria highlighting Boumerdès
Coordinates: 36°46′N 03°29′E / 36.767°N 3.483°E / 36.767; 3.483
Country Algeria
CapitalBoumerdès
Government
 • WāliYahia Yahiatene
Area
 • Total
1,591 km2 (614 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)[1]
 • Total
795,019
 • Density500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01 (CET)
Area Code+213 (0) 24
ISO 3166 codeDZ-35
Districts9
Municipalities32

Administrative divisions

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It is made up of 9 districts and 32 communes or municipalities.

Districts

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Communes

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Neighbourhoods

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The neighbourhoods of Boumerdès Province are:

Villages

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The villages of Boumerdès Province are:[2]

Geology

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Several mountain peaks are found in this province:

Geography

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The province is largely mountainous, with a long coastline and a number of rivers, notably the Isser, Meraldene and Sebaou. Its western edges have in effect become suburbs of Algiers as the capital has expanded.

History

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2003 Boumerdès earthquake

The three towns of Zemmouri El Bahri (Rusubbicari), Djinet (Cissi), and Dellys (Rusucurium), all of Phoenician foundation, were the province's principal ancient sites, although smaller Roman towns existed inland, as at Thenia called Nubel's Citadel [fr], at Taourga; at none do any significant classical ruins remain. Zemmouri El Bahri (under the name of Marsa-d-Dajaj) and Dellys both attained some significance in the Islamic period, beginning with Hammadid times; the largely Ottoman-era casbah of Dellys remains an attraction. Boumerdès itself, called Rocher-Noir in the colonial period, was expanded substantially following the establishment of the new wilaya in 1984.

2003 earthquake

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The province was very hard hit by the 2003 Boumerdès earthquake, whose epicentre was near Zemmouri.

Since the occurrence of the El Asnam earthquake on October 10, 1980, this province has not ceased to feel minor earthquakes.

The occurrence of weak tremors was further accentuated in the aftermath of the Chenoua earthquake of October 29, 1989.

From the earthquake of Wednesday May 21, 2003, telluric aftershocks lasted for years before stabilizing at low magnitudes.

Since 2003, the area encompassing this province has been classified as a high seismic risk region to make adequate technical provisions during the construction of houses and buildings.

The technical control of buildings in this province has become more rigorous and strict with regard to construction materials and construction.

The victims of this earthquake, who were housed in chalets and prefabricated houses, were still in 2020 in the process of being relocated to new apartments.

Resistance against French invasion

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Emir Abdelkader resistance [ar]
 
Mokrani Revolt

During the French conquest of Algeria, the region of the current Boumerdès Province in Lower Kabylia was the scene of several battles of Algerian resistance fighters [ar] against French Troupes coloniales:

French invasion (1830–1870)

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The region of the current Boumerdès Province was the first bulwark that faced from 1837 against the French invasion of Kabylia and eastern Algeria through several battles under the banner of the Mitidja resistance [ar] and the Emir Abdelkader resistance [ar]:

Mokrani Revolt (1871)

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This region was the scene of the last battles of the Mokrani Revolt during the month of April 1871 at the gate of Algiers against the French invasion:[3]

Independence Revolution (1954–1962)

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This province saw the creation of several clandestine torture centers during the Algerian revolution:

Resistance against Salafist terrorism

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Gendarmerie Nationale
 
Algerian police

This province has suffered the horrors of dozens of terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC):

Walis

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Many Walis have passed through Boumerdès Province since its creation on February 4, 1984, through Executive Decree No. 84-09 that organizes the Algerian national territory within the framework of forty-eight wilayates.[4]

Chronology of Walis in Boumerdès Province
Wali From To Province of birth
01 Abdelmalek Sellal April 4, 1984 May 13, 1984 Constantine Province
02 Hachemi Djiar May 13, 1984 September 20, 1987 Batna Province
03 Youcef ben Oudjit September 20, 1987 July 29, 1990 Jijel Province
04 Kouider Djebli July 29, 1990 August 21, 1991 Chlef Province
05 Mohamed Laïchoubi August 21, 1991 April 15, 1994 Tlemcen Province
06 Mourad Hidouk June 30, 1994 August 22, 1999 Jijel Province
07 Ali Bedrici [ar] August 22, 1999 May 7, 2008 Tizi Ouzou Province
08 Brahim Merad May 7, 2008 September 30, 2010 Batna Province
09 Kamal Abbas September 30, 2010 July 22, 2015 Laghouat Province
10 Nouria Yamina Zerhouni July 22, 2015 October 5, 2016 Tlemcen Province
11 Abderrahmane Madani Fouatih October 5, 2016 October 3, 2018 Oran Province
12 Mohamed Slamani October 3, 2018 April 22, 2019 Biskra Province
13 Yahia Yahiatene April 22, 2019 Nowadays Tizi Ouzou Province

Deputies

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People's National Assembly

The deputies of this province during the legislative elections of May 4, 2017, are:[5]

Religion

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Zawiyet Sidi Boumerdassi

Mosques

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  • Al-Fath Mosque
  • Jabir ibn Hayyan Mosque
  • Uthman ibn Affan Mosque
  • Abderrahmane ibn Khaldoun Mosque
  • Al-Baraka Mosque

Zawiyas

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Education

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University of Boumerdès

Health

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Mohamed Bouyahiaoui Hospital

Tourism

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Hotels

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Site of Le Rocher Hotel

Beaches

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El Karma Beach

Transport

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Boumerdès railway station [ar]

Transport accidents

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Ports

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Zemmouri Port [Wikidata]

This province is home to the structures of several fishing ports:

Rivers

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Boumerdès River [Wikidata]

This province is crossed by dozens of rivers:

Dams

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Keddara Dam

This province is home to the structures of several hydraulic dams:

Sport

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The municipalities of this province are home to several sports clubs, especially football, including:

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ Office National des Statistiques, Recensement General de la Population et de l’Habitat 2008 Archived July 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Preliminary results of the 2008 population census. Accessed on July 2, 2008.
  2. ^ "Histoire et photos de la wilaya de Boumerdès". December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Rinn, Louis (1891). "Histoire de l'insurrection de 1871 en Algérie".
  4. ^ Official Gazette of Algeria Archived May 6, 2019, at the Wayback Machine joradp.dz (in France)
  5. ^ "APN". Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2021.