Al Hoceïma Province

Al Hoceima Province (ⵜⴰⵙⴳⴰ ⵏ ⵜⵖⵣⵓⵜ) is a predominantly rural province in the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region of northern Morocco. It takes its name from its capital, Al Hoceima, one of the main cities of the Rif region.

Al Hoceima Province was established in 1959 by Dahir No. 1-59-351 of 2 December 1959 concerning the administrative division of the kingdom, modifying and supplementing the Dahir of 13 October 1956. Covering an area of approximately 3,550 km², it occupies the central and one of the highest parts of the Rif mountain range, reaching 2,452 m at Jebel Tidirhine.

The province is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Taza Province and Taounate Province to the south, Driouch Province to the east, and Chefchaouen Province to the west.^[1]

Al Hoceima Province is located in the eastern part of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. It covers an area of approximately 3,350 km².

It is bordered by:

• the Mediterranean Sea to the north;
• Nador Province to the east;
• Taza Province and Taounate Province to the south;
• Chefchaouen Province to the west.

The province is characterized by mountainous terrain and a Mediterranean coastline, with a combination of rugged relief and coastal plains.

Nine localities are classified as cities in census terms: the municipalities of Al Hoceima, Bni Bouayach, Imzouren, Targuist, and Ajdir, as well as the urban centers of the rural communes of Aït Youssef Ou Ali, Bni Hadifa, Imrabten, and Issaguen.

According to the administrative division established in 2008^[2] and amended in 2010^[3] and 2013^[4], the province is composed of 36 communes, including 5 urban municipalities: Al Hoceima (the capital), Bni Bouayach, Imzouren, Targuist, and Ajdir.

The remaining 31 rural communes are grouped into 17 caïdats within four circles:

• Bni Boufrah Circle:
  • caïdat of Bni Boufrah: Bni Boufrah and Senada;
  • caïdat of Bni Gmil Mesttassa: Bni Gmil Maksouline and Bni Gmil;

• Bni Ouriaghel Circle:
  • caïdat of Arbaa Taourirt: Arbaa Taourirt and Chakrane;
  • caïdat of Nekkour: Nekkour and Tifarouine;
  • caïdat of Bni Hadifa: Bni Hadifa and Zaouïat Sidi Abdelkader;
  • caïdat of Beni Abdallah: Beni Abdallah;
  • caïdat of Aït Youssef Ou Ali: Aït Youssef Ou Ali and Louta;
  • caïdat of Imrabten: Imrabten;
  • caïdat of Izzemouren: Izzemouren and Aït Kamra;
  • caïdat of Rouadi: Rouadi;

• Targuist Circle:
  • caïdat of Bni Ammart: Bni Ammart and Sidi Bouzineb;
  • caïdat of Sidi Boutmim: Sidi Boutmim, Zarqet, and Bni Bchir;
  • caïdat of Bni Bounsar: Bni Bounsar and Bni Ahmed Imougzen;

• Ketama Circle:
  • caïdat of Ketama: Ketama and Tamsaout;
  • caïdat of Issaguen: Issaguen and Moulay Ahmed Cherif;
  • caïdat of Tabarrant: Bni Bouchibet and Taghzout;
  • caïdat of Ikaouen: Abdelghaya Souahel.

The province is divided administratively into the following:^[5]

The province of Al Hoceima is characterized by notable linguistic diversity, as it is home to three main linguistic varieties: Tarifit, Senhaja Berber, and dialectal Arabic.^[6]

35°15′N 3°56′W / 35.250°N 3.933°W / 35.250; -3.933