Bordj Bounaama
Encyclopedia
Bordj Bounaama is a small, mountaineous town of about 25,000 inhabitants in the heart of the Ouarsenis
mountains in northwestern Algeria
. The city is a commune and a daïra
of the wilaya of Tissemsilt
. It was known as Moliere during the French occupation of Algeria (1830–1962), and then as Beni Hendel until 1975. The city is elevated 1098 m above sea level and is attached to Sid Aamar (le Grand Pic) of the Ouarsenis mountains, which rises to 1985 m.
After independence from France, the city held the name Beni Hendel, which was a Berber
tribe living in the area several centuries ago. After 1975 the city took its current name, Bordj Bounaama, in memorial to the martyr Si M'hamed Bounaama (also known as Djilali Bounaama) who was born in the city in 1926, and who was the head of the fourth region during the Algerian War of Independence
against the French Army
(1954–1962) before being killed in Blida
on August 8, 1961.
Bordj Bounaama was part of the Departement d'Oran during the French occupation, before joining Al-Asnam (now Chlef
) after independence. With the change of name in 1975, it joined the wilaya of Tiaret, before becoming part of the wilaya of Tissemsilt
created during administrative redistribution in 1984.
Ouarsenis
The Ouarsenis is a series of mountains in North-Western Algeria located at about 80 km south of the Mediterranean. It has a maximum elevation of 1985m near Bordj Bounaama at about 60 km west of Tissemsilt....
mountains in northwestern Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. The city is a commune and a daïra
Daïra
A daïra |circle]]; plural dawaïr) is an administrative division of a wilaya in Algeria and in Western Sahara. Another transliteration of the word is Daerah.*Daïra of Algeria*Daïra of Western Sahara-See also:* Provinces of Algeria...
of the wilaya of Tissemsilt
Tissemsilt
Tissemsilt is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Tissemsilt Province and Tissemsilt District....
. It was known as Moliere during the French occupation of Algeria (1830–1962), and then as Beni Hendel until 1975. The city is elevated 1098 m above sea level and is attached to Sid Aamar (le Grand Pic) of the Ouarsenis mountains, which rises to 1985 m.
After independence from France, the city held the name Beni Hendel, which was a Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
tribe living in the area several centuries ago. After 1975 the city took its current name, Bordj Bounaama, in memorial to the martyr Si M'hamed Bounaama (also known as Djilali Bounaama) who was born in the city in 1926, and who was the head of the fourth region during the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
against the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
(1954–1962) before being killed in Blida
Blida
Blida is a city in Algeria. It is the capital of Blida Province, and it is located about 45 km south-west of Algiers, the national capital. The name Blida, i.e...
on August 8, 1961.
Bordj Bounaama was part of the Departement d'Oran during the French occupation, before joining Al-Asnam (now Chlef
Chlef
Chlef is the capital of Chlef Province, Algeria. It is home to the soccer club ASO Chlef, the Hassiba Ben Bouali university, and the basilica of Saint Reparatus, which is home to the oldest Christian labyrinth in the world....
) after independence. With the change of name in 1975, it joined the wilaya of Tiaret, before becoming part of the wilaya of Tissemsilt
Tissemsilt
Tissemsilt is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Tissemsilt Province and Tissemsilt District....
created during administrative redistribution in 1984.