Béni Mellal-Khénifra

Béni Mellal-Khénifra
بني ملال - خنيفرة
Region

Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 32°28′N 6°21′W / 32.46°N 6.35°W / 32.46; -6.35Coordinates: 32°28′N 6°21′W / 32.46°N 6.35°W / 32.46; -6.35
Country  Morocco
Created September 2015
Capital Beni Mellal
Government
 • Type Governor–regional council
 • Wali Mohamed Derdouri
 • Council president Ibrahim Moujahid
Area[1]
 • Total 33,208 km2 (12,822 sq mi)
Population (1 September 2014)[1]
 • Total 2,520,776
 • Density 76/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)

Béni Mellal-Khénifra (Arabic: بني ملال - خنيفرة‎‎) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco. It covers an area of 33,208 km² and recorded a population of 2,520,776 in the 2014 Moroccan census.[1] The capital of the region is Beni Mellal.[2]

Geography

Béni Mellal-Khénifra is located in the interior of the country. It borders Rabat-Salé-Kénitra to the north, Fès-Meknès to the northeast, Drâa-Tafilalet to the southeast, Marrakesh-Safi to the southwest and Casablanca-Settat to the northeast.[3] In the western and central part of the region is the productive Tadla plain irrigated by the Oum Er-Rbia River.[4] This plain is bracketed by the High Atlas mountains which run through the southern and eastern parts of the region, and the foothills of the Middle Atlas to the north.

History

Béni Mellal-Khénifra was formed in September 2015 by adding Khouribga Province of Chaouia-Ouardigha region and Khénifra Province of Meknès-Tafilalet region to the three provinces previously making up the region of Tadla-Azilal.[2]

Government

Ibrahim Moujahid, a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, was elected as the regional council's first president on 14 September 2015.[5] Mohamed Derdouri was appointed governor (wali) of the region on 13 October 2015.[6]

Subdivisions

Béni Mellal-Khénifra comprises five provinces:[2]

Economy

Agriculture is the backbone of the region's economy. Major crops include cereals, beetroot, olives, citrus fruits and pomegranates; the production of milk and meat is also substantial.[7][8] The Ouled Abdoun Basin near Khouribga holds 44% of Morocco's phosphate reserves.[9]

Infrastructure

The Berrechid–Beni Mellal expressway connects the region with the rest of the national expressway network, passing through the cities of Beni Mellal, Oued Zem and Khouribga as it heads northwest to Berrechid just south of Casablanca. National Route 8 is another important highway, connecting Beni Mellal and Khenifra with Marrakesh in the southeast and Fez in the northwest. Beni Mellal Airport is served by Royal Air Maroc, and there is a rail line with passenger service that runs between Oued Zem, Khouribga and Casablanca.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Law, Gwillim. "Regions of Morocco". Statoids. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Décret fixant le nom des régions" (pdf). Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales (in French). 20 February 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Région Béni Mellal-Khénifra: Pour un projet sociétal et un programme d'action mobilisant les efforts de tous les acteurs et intervenants locaux" (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Ouassou, A.; Ameziane, T.; Ziyad, A.; Belghiti, M. (2007). "Application of the Drought Management Guidelines in Morocco". Options Méditerranéennes, Series B. CIHEAM (58): 343–372. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ministère de l'Intérieur : l'élection des présidents des Conseils des régions s'est déroulée dans de bonnes conditions et dans un climat de transparence" [Ministry of the Interior: the regional council presidential elections took place under good conditions and in an air of transparency] (Press release) (in French). Maghreb Arabe Press. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "SM le Roi a procédé à la nomination les Walis des régions" [His majesty the King appointed the Walis of the regions]. La Vie Éco (in French). 14 October 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  7. ↑ Région de Tadla, Azilal (PDF) (Report). FAO. p. 5. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Agriculture and Agri-food industry: Sub sectors". Regional Investment Center of Tadla-Azilal. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  9. ↑ S. Zouhri; A. Kchikach; O. Saddiqi; F.Z. El Haimer; L. Baidder; A. Michard (2008). "The Cretaceous-Tertiary Plateaus". In A. Michard; O. Saddiqi; A. Chalouan; D. Frizon de Lamotte. Continental Evolution: the Geology of Morocco:. Berlin: Springer. pp. 331–358. ISBN 3540770755.
  10. ↑ "Trains Grandes Lignes" (in French). ONCF. Retrieved 13 December 2015.

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