Bordj Menaïel
برج منايل | |
---|---|
City and Common | |
Nickname: Burǧ Imnayen | |
Motto(s): "From the people, for the people" | |
Location of Bordj Menaïel in the
Algeria | |
Coordinates: 36°44′30″N 3°43′23″E / 36.741667°N 3.723056°E | |
Country | Algeria |
Province | Boumerdès Province |
District | Bordj Menaïel District |
APC | 2012-2017 |
Government | |
• Type | Municipality |
Population (2008) | |
• Total | 64,820 [1] |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( CET) |
ISO 3166 code | CP |
Bordj Menaïel (from the Arabic برج - bordj, "tower" and Berber imnayen "cavaliers") is a town in the Boumerdès Province in Algeria. It is located in the western Kabylie region at 36°44′30″N 3°43′23″E / 36.74167°N 3.72306°E and is 30 km away from the city of Boumerdès. As of 2008, the population of the municipality is 64,820. [2]
Bordj Menaïel was founded by the Ottoman government of Algeria, most likely in the 16th century, to guard a route between Algiers and Constantine and to secure control of the Isser plain. [3] In the 18th century, its military role was superseded by the foundation of Bordj Sebaou further west, but it remained the residence of the Ottoman wakil administering the surrounding farmland. [4]
The French conquest reached the fort of Bordj Menaïel in 1844, when General Bugeaud took it. Afterwards, it initially became the residence of the aghas of the Iflissen Umellil. [5] In 1859, a French colony was created there by imperial decree, using 1718 hectares. It was enlarged through land expropriation in 1872 by Admiral de Gueydon, in the wake of the Mokrani Revolt. [6]
The road RN 12 runs through Bordj Menaïel, linking it with Isser to the west and Naciria to the east. [7]
Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi was born in Bordj Menaiel. The local football team is JS Bordj Ménaïel.