Béni Mellal-Khénifra
Béni Mellal-Khénifra is one of the twelve regions of Morocco. It covered an area of 28,374 km and recorded a population of 2,520,776 in the 2014 Moroccan census. The capital of the region is Beni Mellal.
Geography
Béni Mellal-Khénifra is located in the interior of the country, bordering 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 northwest. The region is divided into western and central sectors dominated by the Tadla fertile plain irrigated by the Oum Er-Rbia River, which runs through this area. The High Atlas mountains run through the southern and eastern parts of the region, and the foothills of the Middle Atlas are found to the north.
History
In September 2015, the creation of Béni Mellal-Khénifra united the Khouribga Province of Chaouia-Ouardigha region and the Khénifra Province of Meknès-Tafilalet region with the three already existing provinces to form the Tadla-Azilal region.
Government
Ibrahim Moujahid, an Authenticity and Modernity Party member, was elected the regional council's first president on September 14, 2015. Mohamed Derdouri was appointed governor (wali) of the region on October 13, 2015.
Economy
Cereals, beetroot, olives, citrus fruit, and pomegranates are among the most important crops grown in the Ouled Abdoun Basin near Khouribga, where 44% of Morocco's phosphate deposits are located.
Subdivisions
Provinces of Béni Mellal-Khénifra
Béni Mellal-Khénifra comprises five provinces:
- Azilal Province
- Béni Mellal Province
- Fquih Ben Salah Province
- Khénifra Province
- Khouribga Province
