Oriental (Morocco)


Oriental is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the eastern part of the country. It covers an area of 90,127 km² and has a population of 2,314,346.
The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one prefecture. Mohamed Mhidia became wali of the region in 2015.
A majority of the population of Oriental speak Moroccan Darija Arabic as a first or second language. A large minority speak the Rif-Berber language as a first language. Small numbers speak Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight and Figuig Tamazight, principally in the south of Oriental.

Etymology

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

Geography

Oriental is situated in the eastern 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:
NameProvince/PrefecturePopulation
OujdaOujda-Angad494,252
NadorNador Province161,726
BerkaneBerkane Province109,237
TaourirtTaourirt Province103,398
Beni Ensar / Aït NsarNador Province56,582
Al AarouiNador Province47,599
JeradaJerada Province43,506
El Aioun Sidi MelloukTaourirt Province41,832
BouargNador Province37,737
ZaioNador Province35,806
ZeghanghaneNador Province34,025
Sidi Slimane EchcharraaBerkane Province30,202
BouarfaFiguig Province28,846
Bni ChikerNador Province26,884
Oulad SettoutNador Province23,218
SelouaneNador Province21,570
BoughribaBerkane Province20,513
AhfirBerkane Province19,630
ArekmaneNador Province18,490
MtalssaDriouch Province16,787
TalsintFiguig Province16,166
Bni TadjiteFiguig Province16,149
ZegzelBerkane Province16,137
TendraraFiguig Province15,390
MidarDriouch Province17,042
DriouchDriouch Province14,741
Ben TaiebDriouch Province14,257
TemsamaneDriouch Province13,920
Ain Bni MatharJerada Province13,526
FiguigFiguig Province12,516