Boumerdès () is a province (wilaya) of northern Algeria. It is 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.

Administrative divisions

It is made up of 9 districts and 32 communes.

Districts

  1. Baghlia
  2. Bordj Ménaïl
  3. Boudouaou
  4. Boumerdès
  5. Dellys
  6. Isser
  7. Khemis El Khechna
  8. Naciria
  9. Thénia

Communes

  1. Aafir
  2. Ammal
  3. Baghlia
  4. Ben Choud
  5. Beni Amrane
  6. Bordj Menaiel (Bordj Ménaïl)
  7. Boudouaou
  8. Boudouaou-El-Bahri
  9. Boumerdès
  10. Bouzegza Keddara
  11. Chabet el Ameur
  12. Corso
  13. Dellys
  14. Djinet
  15. El Kharrouba
  16. Hammedi
  17. Issers
  18. Keddara
  19. Khemis El-Khechna
  20. Larbatache
  21. Legata
  22. Naciria
  23. Ouled Aissa
  24. Ouled Hedadj
  25. Ouled Moussa
  26. Si-Mustapha
  27. Sidi Daoud
  28. Souk El-Had
  29. Taourga
  30. Thenia
  31. Tidjelabine
  32. Timezrit
  33. Zemmouri

Neighbourhoods

The neighbourhoods of Boumerdès Province are:

<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="160px">

File:Boumerdes.jpg|Cité Ali Bouyahiaoui

File:Boumerdes بومرداس 2.jpg|Cité 11 décembre 1960

File:Boumerdès.JPG|Quartier du front de mer

File:Gare ferrouviaire de Boumerdès.jpg|Cité Ibn Khaldoun

File:Photo rocher noir 07012019.jpg|Cité du Rocher Noir

</gallery>

Villages

The villages of Boumerdès Province are:

Geology

Several mountain peaks are found in this province:

  • Bouzegza Mountain (1032 m)
  • (740 m)
  • (630 m)
  • (467 m)
  • (452 m)
  • (444 m)
  • (430 m)
  • (420 m)
  • Mahelma Forest

Geography

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

thumb|[[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 ', and 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

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

thumb|

thumb|[[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 against French Troupes coloniales:

French invasion (1830–1870)

  • Shipwreck of Dellys, which took place on May 15, 1830, as part of the '.

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 and the :

  • Expedition of the Col des Beni Aïcha, which took place on May 18, 1837, as part of the '.
  • First Battle of Boudouaou, which took place on May 25, 1837, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.
  • First Battle of the Issers, which took place on May 27, 1837, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.
  • First Assault of Dellys, which took place on May 28, 1837, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.
  • , which took place on April 18, 1840, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.
  • , which took place on September 18, 1840, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.
  • Second Assault of Dellys, which took place on May 12, 1844, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.
  • Battle of the Col des Beni Aïcha (1846), which took place on February 3, 1846, as part of the Algerian resistance against French invasion.

Mokrani Revolt (1871)

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:

  • , which took place on April 17, 1871, as part of the Mokrani Revolt.
  • , which took place on April 18, 1871, as part of the Mokrani Revolt.
  • , which took place on April 18, 1871, as part of the Mokrani Revolt.
  • Battle of the Col des Beni Aïcha, which took place on April 19, 1871, as part of the Mokrani Revolt.
  • Battle of Alma, which took place on April 19, 1871, as part of the Mokrani Revolt.

Independence Revolution (1954–1962)

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

  • Ferme Gauthier in Titouna within the commune of Souk El Had.
  • Ferme Moll in the commune of Legata.
  • Ferme Sabatier in the commune of Si Mustapha.
  • Ferme Errol in the commune of Tidjelabine.
  • Camp Bastos in the commune of Bordj Menaïel.
  • Camp Cortès in the commune of Bordj Menaïel.
  • Camp des Sénégalais in the commune of the Zemmouri.
  • Camp Germain in the commune of Legata.
  • Camp Gualota in the commune of Dellys.
  • Camp Ouriacha in the commune of Naciria.
  • Camp Stora in the commune of Kharrouba.

Resistance against Salafist terrorism

thumb|[[Gendarmerie Nationale (Algeria)|Gendarmerie Nationale]]

thumb|[[Algerian police]]

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

  • List of terrorist incidents in 2005
  • 2005 Tidjelabine bombing (July 29, 2005)
  • List of terrorist incidents in 2006
  • 2006 Tidjelabine bombing (June 19, 2006)
  • 2006 Boudouaou bombing (August 8, 2006)
  • List of terrorist incidents in 2007
  • 2007 Souk El Had bombing (February 13, 2007)
  • 2007 Dellys bombing (September 8, 2007)
  • List of terrorist incidents in 2008
  • 2008 Naciria bombing (January 2, 2008)
  • 2008 Thénia bombing (January 29, 2008)
  • 2008 Beni Amrane bombings (June 9, 2008)
  • 2008 Zemmouri bombing (August 9, 2008)
  • 2008 Issers bombing (August 19, 2008)
  • List of terrorist incidents in 2010
  • 2010 Tidjelabine bombing (April 7, 2010)
  • 2010 Ammal bombing (June 11, 2010)
  • August 2010 Baghlia bombing (August 18, 2010)
  • 2010 Bordj Menaïel bombing (September 21, 2010)
  • List of terrorist incidents in 2012
  • 2012 Thénia bombing (January 11, 2012)
  • 2012 Baghlia bombing (April 29, 2012)

Walis

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.

{| align=center border=3 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=720 style="background-color:#eaf8f4; color:#008560" align="center"

|+ style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"| Chronology of Walis in Boumerdès Province

! align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|N°

! align=center|Wali

! align=center|From

! align=center|To

! align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|Province of birth

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|01

|Abdelmalek Sellal

|align=center|April 4, 1984

|align=center|May 13, 1984

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Constantine Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|02

|Hachemi Djiar

|align=center|May 13, 1984

|align=center|September 20, 1987

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Batna Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|03

|Youcef ben Oudjit

|align=center|September 20, 1987

|align=center|July 29, 1990

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Jijel Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|04

|Kouider Djebli

|align=center|July 29, 1990

|align=center|August 21, 1991

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Chlef Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|05

|Mohamed Laïchoubi

|align=center|August 21, 1991

|align=center|April 15, 1994

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Tlemcen Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|06

|Mourad Hidouk

|align=center|June 30, 1994

|align=center|August 22, 1999

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Jijel Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|07

|

|align=center|August 22, 1999

|align=center|May 7, 2008

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Tizi Ouzou Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|08

|Brahim Merad

|align=center|May 7, 2008

|align=center|September 30, 2010

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Batna Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|09

|Kamal Abbas

|align=center|September 30, 2010

|align=center|July 22, 2015

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Laghouat Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|10

|Nouria Yamina Zerhouni

|align=center|July 22, 2015

|align=center|October 5, 2016

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Tlemcen Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|11

|Abderrahmane Madani Fouatih

|align=center|October 5, 2016

|align=center|October 3, 2018

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Oran Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|12

|Mohamed Slamani

|align=center|October 3, 2018

|align=center|April 22, 2019

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Biskra Province

|-

|align=center style="background-color:Orange;"|13

|Yahia Yahiatene

|align=center|April 22, 2019

|align=center|Nowadays

|align=left style="background-color:Orange;"|Tizi Ouzou Province

|}

Deputies

thumb|[[People's National Assembly]]

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

  • Abdelkrim Djanati (Democratic National Rally)
  • Ali Laskri (Socialist Forces Front)
  • Belkacem Benamar (Socialist Forces Front)
  • Hacene Bouzad (Independent)
  • Mansour Abdelaziz (Movement of Society for Peace)
  • Menouar Djaadi (National Liberation Front)
  • Nadia Iheddadene born Amroune (Socialist Forces Front)
  • Saliha Mekharef (Democratic National Rally)
  • Salima Othmani (National Liberation Front)
  • Yahia Mahsas (National Liberation Front)

Religion

Mosques

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

Zawiyas

  • Zawiya Thaalibia in the Issers.
  • Zawiyet Sidi Amar Cherif in Sidi Daoud.
  • Zawiyet Sidi Boumerdassi in Tidjelabine.
  • Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki in Thenia.
  • ' in Aafir.
  • ' in Beni Amrane.
  • ' in Khemis El-Khechna.
  • ' in Boudouaou.

Education

thumb|[[University of Boumerdès]]

  • University of Boumerdès
  • Faculty of Boudouaou
  • Institut National de la Productivité et du Développement Industriel (INPED)
  • Touzout brothers Lyceum
  • Ahmed Rahmoune Lyceum
  • Mohamed Bouchatal College
  • Mohamed Boushaki School
  • Draoui brothers Lyceum
  • Emir Khaled Lyceum
  • Mohamed Laïd Al-Khalifa Lyceum
  • Frantz Fanon Lyceum

Health

thumb|[[Mohamed Bouyahiaoui Hospital]]

  • Mohamed Bouyahiaoui Hospital
  • Boumerdès Orthopedic Emergency Hospital
  • Boumerdès Hospital

Tourism

Hotels

thumb|Site of [[Le Rocher Hotel]]

  • Albatros Beach Hotel
  • El Amir Hotel
  • La Villa Hotel
  • Le Rocher Hotel
  • Leïla Hotel
  • Medina Hotel
  • Soummam Hotel
  • Timezrit Hotel

Beaches

thumb|[[El Karma Beach]]

  • El Karma Beach
  • Nakhlat Beach
  • Miflah Beach
  • Echatt Beach
  • Corso Beach
  • Souanine Beach
  • Leghata Beach
  • Aafir Beach

Transport

thumb|

Transport accidents

  • 2011 Boudouaou rail accident (August 22, 2011)

Ports

thumb|

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

  • Al-Qaous fishing shelter

Rivers

thumb|

This province is crossed by dozens of rivers:

  • Isser River
  • Meraldene River
  • Sebaou River

Dams

thumb|[[Keddara Dam]]

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

  • Keddara Dam
  • Meraldene Dam

Sport

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

  • CMB Thénia
  • IB Khemis El Khachna
  • JS Bordj Ménaïel
  • RC Boumerdes
  • CR Issers
  • ES Baghlia
  • ESM Boudouaou
  • JS Naciria
  • US Dellys

Notable people

References