M'sila (also spelled Msila) (); is the capital of

M'Sila Province M'sila ( ) is a province () of northern Algeria. It has a population of 958361 people and an area of , with a density of 74/square kilometers while its capital, also called M'sila, home to M'sila University, has a population of about 100,000. Lo ...

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

, and is co-extensive with M'sila District. It has a population of 132,975 as per the 2008 census. M'sila University is also located in this city.

History

The city was founded under the name al-Muhammadiya, named after the second

Fatimid caliph This is a list of an Arab dynasty, the Shi'ite caliphs of the Fatimid dynasty (909–1171). The Shi'ite caliphs were also regarded at the same time as the imams of the Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam Shia Islam is the second-largest br ...

, al-Qa'im, during the latter's campaign against the rebellious

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

tribes of central Algeria. Meant to cement Fatimid control over the Hodna plain, the construction of the city was entrusted to

Ali ibn Hamdun al-Andalusi Ali ibn Hamdun al-Andalusi was an early adherent of Isma'ilism and of the Fatimid Caliphate. He was the founder and governor of the city of M'Sila, and the progenitor of a line of governors and generals in the service of the Fatimid and Umayyad rul ...

, who became its first governor. Much building material for the new city was taken from a nearby ruined Roman city (likely

Lambaesis Lambaesis (Lambæsis), Lambaisis or Lambaesa (''Lambèse'' in colonial French), is a Roman archaeological site in Algeria, southeast of Batna and west of Timgad, located next to the modern village of Tazoult. The former bishopric is also ...

Timgad Timgad (, known as Marciana Traiana Thamugadi) was a Roman city in the Aurès Mountains of Algeria. It was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The full name of the city was ''Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi''. Emperor ...

). M'sila was the location of the first village constructed as part of a government-run program to transition nomadic Algerians to sedentary life using local materials. The village, now complete, was dubbed Maader and consists of houses, public and trading areas, and a mosque. Today it is much more developed with many companies, business offices, religious centers and schools.

Geography

Climate

M'sila has a

cold semi-arid climate Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute thermodynamic ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

''BSk''). Rainfall is higher in winter than in summer. The average annual temperature in M'Sila is . About of precipitation falls annually.

Economy

M'sila is primarily known for its farming and small business.

Transportation

The city was formerly served by

M'Sila Airport M'Sila Airport was a public use airport located near M'Sila, M'Sila Province, Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia ...

Notable people

Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina (; 26 February 1934 – 23 May 2025) was an Algerian film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his 1975 film '' Chronicle of the Years of Fire'', which won the at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival and became the ...

(1934-2025), film director

References

External links

Encycloepaedia of the Orient
a brief description of M'Sila, focusing on its capital
BBC
- a news article about some recent violence in M'Sila
Archnet
- focuses on the Maader village project
Wetlands International
- an in-depth description of M'Sila's wetland Communes of M'Sila Province Cities in Algeria Province seats of Algeria 920s establishments Populated places established in the 10th century {{M'Sila-geo-stub