Oriental (Morocco)

For other uses, see Orient (disambiguation).
Egypt and Saudi Arabia also have provinces called Ash-Sharqīyah. See Sharqia Governorate and Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
Oriental
  • ⵜⴰⴳⵎⵓⴹⴰⵏⵜ
  • جهة الشرق
Region

Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel)
Coordinates: 34°41′N 1°54′W / 34.683°N 1.900°W / 34.683; -1.900Coordinates: 34°41′N 1°54′W / 34.683°N 1.900°W / 34.683; -1.900
Country  Morocco
Capital Oujda
Government
 • Wali (Governor) Mohamed Mhidia
 • President Abdenbi Bioui
Area
 • Total 90,127 km2 (34,798 sq mi)
Population (2014)
 • Total 2,314,346
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)

Oriental (Berber: ⵜⴰⴳⵎⵓⴹⴰⵏⵜ, Tagmuḍant; Arabic: جهة الشرق; French: Oriental) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the northeastern part of the country. It covers an area of 90,127 km² and has a population of 2,314,346 (2014 census).

The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one perfecture. The current governor of the region is Abdelfettah El Houmam.

The majority of the population of Oriental speak the Berber language (Tamazight). Tarifit is predominantly spoken in the north (including Ait Iznassen), Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight in the south east and Figuig Tamazight in the south western area of Oriental. Moroccan Arabic is mostly spoken in the middle of Oriental, especially in the Oujda and Jerada areas.

Etymology

The name Oriental is a French word for "eastern", and comes directly from the Latin orientalis, "of the east", being that the region is located in the east of Morocco.[1] The name Tagmuḍant (from agmuḍan) is a direct translation from the French word oriental in the Berber Language.

Geography

It is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The regions of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate, Fès-Boulemane and Meknès-Tafilalet lie to its west, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region. In 2015, Oriental was expanded to include Guercif Province

The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces:[2]

Municipalities by population (2014)

Main square of Oujda, the regional capital and largest city.
Name Province/Perfecture Population (2014)
Oujda Oujda-Angad 494,252
Nador Nador Province 161,726
Berkane Berkane Province 109,237
Taourirt Taourirt Province 103,398
Beni Ensar / Aït Nsar Nador Province 56,582
Al Aaroui Nador Province 47,599
Jerada Jerada Province 43,506
El Aioun Sidi Mellouk Taourirt Province 41,832
Bouarg Nador Province 37,737
Zaio Nador Province 35,806
Zeghanghane Nador Province 34,025
Sidi Slimane Echcharraa Berkane Province 30,202
Bouarfa Figuig Province 28,846
Bni Chiker Nador Province 26,884
Oulad Settout Nador Province 23,218
Selouane Nador Province 21,570
Boughriba Berkane Province 20,513
Ahfir Berkane Province 19,630
Arekmane Nador Province 18,490
Mtalssa Driouch Province 16,787
Talsint Figuig Province 16,166
Bni Tadjite Figuig Province 16,149
Zegzel Berkane Province 16,137
Tendrara Figuig Province 15,390
Midar Driouch Province 15,021
Driouch Driouch Province 14,741
Ben Taieb Driouch Province 14,257
Temsamane Driouch Province 13,920
Ain Bni Mathar Jerada Province 13,526
Figuig Figuig Province 12,516

[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Douglas Harper. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Décret fixant le nom des régions" (pdf). Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales (in French). Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  3. ↑ "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2014". Hcp.ma. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
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