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| Chaouia-Ouardigha | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chaouia-Ouardigha |
| Settlement type | Former region |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Kingdom of Morocco |
| Established title | Created |
| Established date | 1997 |
| Extinct title | Abolished |
| Extinct date | 2015 |
| Seat type | Capital |
| Seat | Settat |
| Area total km2 | 7120 |
| Population total | 1,893,950 |
| Population as of | 2014 census |
Chaouia-Ouardigha was an administrative region in north-central Kingdom of Morocco from 1997 to 2015, centered on the provincial capital Settat and comprising provinces such as Ben Slimane Province, Berrechid Province, El Kelâa des Sraghna Province, and Settat Province. The region lay between the Atlantic Ocean corridor near Casablanca and the uplands approaching the High Atlas range, linking transport corridors used by projects involving Office Chérifien des Phosphates, ONCF, and agricultural cooperatives tied to Union Marocaine des Exploitants Agricoles. Chaouia-Ouardigha combined rural plains associated with historical groups like the Chaouia tribes and towns with industrial sites connected to Moroccan national plans such as the Plan Maroc Vert.
Chaouia-Ouardigha occupied plains and plateau terrain bordering Grand Casablanca-Settat, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, and Marrakesh-Safi, encompassing the catchments of the Oued El Abid and feeder streams into the Sebou River while lying north of the High Atlas foothills near Jbel Bou Iblane. The region's climate transitioned between Mediterranean influences from the Atlantic Ocean and semi-arid conditions noted in studies by the Haut-Commissariat au Plan, with soils classified in agricultural surveys by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and hydrology mapped by the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water. Major roads included segments of routes connecting Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh, and rail links managed by ONCF traversed the plains toward Fes and Tanger.
The territory comprised historical territories of the Chaouia confederation that featured in accounts of the Almoravid dynasty and encounters with Portuguese Morocco during the 16th century, later integrated into administrative reforms under the French protectorate in Morocco and subsequent reorganizations after independence under rulers including Mohammed V and Hassan II. Regional changes in 1997 created Chaouia-Ouardigha following directives inspired by national decentralization debates involving entities like the Conseil de la Région and legal frameworks referenced in laws promulgated by the Government of Morocco. The 2015 territorial reform dissolved the region and redistributed its provinces into the new Béni Mellal-Khénifra and Casablanca-Settat regions in line with recommendations from the Commission consultative de la régionalisation.
Administratively the region comprised four provinces—Ben Slimane Province, Berrechid Province, El Kelâa des Sraghna Province, and Settat Province—each administered by governors nominated according to procedures involving the Ministry of Interior and overseen by regional councils with presidents who coordinated with national ministries such as Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Agriculture. Municipalities and rural communes within the provinces included Settat (commune), Oulad Hriz commune, Ben Slimane (city), and Berrechid (city), interacting with decentralization mechanisms promoted by the United Nations Development Programme projects and funding from institutions like the European Union for local development.
The regional economy blended cereal agriculture documented in Plan Maroc Vert files, intensive poultry and livestock farming linked to cooperatives associated with Office National Interprofessionnel des Céréales et des Légumineuses (ONICL), and industrial zones near Berrechid that hosted light manufacturing connected to export corridors via the port of Casablanca. Phosphate-related logistics from Office Chérifien des Phosphates influenced freight flows on ONCF rail lines, while investment promotion efforts involved Agence Marocaine de Développement des Investissements and credit facilities from banks such as Banque Centrale Populaire and Attijariwafa Bank. The agricultural sector interacted with international trade partners under accords like the EU–Morocco Association Agreement and benefited from rural development funding coordinated by FAO programs.
Census data from the Haut-Commissariat au Plan showed a population concentrated in urban centers such as Settat, Berrechid, Ben Slimane, and El Kelaa des Sraghna, with migration patterns toward Casablanca and Rabat metropolitan areas noted in studies by the Ministry of Interior. The population comprised Arabic-speaking communities, Amazigh-speaking groups historically associated with the Chaouia tribes, and social structures influenced by tribal affiliations recorded in ethnographic surveys by the Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe (IRCAM). Public services were administered in coordination with national agencies like the Ministry of Health and Ministry of National Education, with demographic indicators tracked by the World Bank and UNICEF in regional reports.
Local cultural life drew on Chaouia traditions, folklore motifs linked to festivals celebrated in Settat and rural communes, and artisanal crafts sold at markets frequented by travelers from Casablanca and Rabat. Religious sites included mosques administered through the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, while cultural promotion involved institutions such as the Ministry of Culture and collaborations with NGOs like UNESCO on heritage initiatives. Sporting clubs based in Settat and Berrechid engaged in competitions under the aegis of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and cultural programming tapped artists and performers who participated in national events such as the Mawazine festival circuits.
Transport infrastructure included regional segments of national roads linking to A3 motorway corridors toward Casablanca and Rabat, rail services operated by ONCF connecting regional stations to national networks, and logistics hubs supporting agricultural exports routed to the Port of Casablanca and rail-linked terminals serving Office Chérifien des Phosphates. Utilities and public works projects were implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water and financed through public investment plans involving Agence pour le Développement Agricole (ADA) and international partners such as the African Development Bank. Health and education facilities coordinated with Ministry of Health and Ministry of National Education networks provided regional services until the 2015 reorganization.
Category:Former regions of Morocco