Oriental région or Oujda region (Arabic: الشرق, romanizedaš-šarq) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the north-eastern part of the country. It covers an area of 90,127 km² and has a population of 2,314,346 (2014 census) and is the easternmost region of Morocco.

Oriental
جهة الشرق (Arabic)
Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel)
Jebel Tamejout - Grotte du Chameau (Zegzel)
Official seal of Oriental
Location in Morocco
Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 34°41′N 1°54′W / 34.683°N 1.900°W / 34.683; -1.900
Country Morocco
CapitalOujda
Government
 • Wali (Governor)Mohamed Mhidia
 • PresidentAbdenbi Bioui
Area
 • Total90,127 km2 (34,798 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total2,314,346
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Websiteconseilregionoriental.ma

The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one prefecture.

A majority of the population of Oriental speak Moroccan Arabic (86.2%) as a first or second language. A large minority speak the Rif-Berber language (38.4%) as a first language. Small numbers speak Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight and Figuig Tamazight, principally in the south of Oriental.[1]

Etymology edit

The English name Oriental is derived from the French term L'Oriental (for "the east") and comes directly from the Latin orientalis, "of the east", being that the region is located in the east of Morocco.[2] The Arabic name Ash-Sharq also means "the east", as does the Berber name Tagmuḍant (from agmuḍan).

Geography edit

Oriental is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, lie to its northwest, Fès-Meknès to its west, Drâa-Tafilalet to the southwest, 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:[3]

 
Provinces of Oriental

Municipalities by population (2014) edit

 
Main square of Oujda, the regional capital and largest city.
Name Province/Prefecture 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 17,042
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

[4]

History edit

Administration edit

Notable Personalities from the Oriental Region edit

Arts & Cinema

Sports

Politics & Diplomats

Other


References edit

  1. ^ "Population selon les langues nationales par régions en 2014 (%)". 13 Oct 2015. p. 30. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 Dec 2016.
  2. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Douglas Harper. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Décret fixant le nom des régions" (PDF). Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  4. ^ "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2014". Hcp.ma. Archived from the original on 2015-09-14. Retrieved 2015-09-14.

External links edit