Place:Ben Guerir
Ben Guerir بن ڭرير | |
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City | |
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  Ben Guerir  Ben Guerir | |
| Coordinates: [ ⚑ ] 32°14′34.82″N 7°57′34.54″W / 32.2430056°N 7.9595944°W | |
| Country | Morocco |
| Region | Marrakesh-Safi |
| Province | Rehamna |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | ouardi abdellatif |
| Elevation | 449 m (1,473 ft) |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
| • Total | 114,872 |
Ben Guerir (Arabic: بن ڭرير) is a city in central Morocco and the administrative center of the Rehamna province, within the Marrakesh-Safi region. It is recognized as a hub for higher education and a key military location.[2][3]
The city is situated in the historical territory of the Rahamna tribe and is notable for its educational, industrial, and military significance.
Geography
Ben Guerir lies in a semi-arid zone in central Morocco, north of Marrakesh. Its geographical location has historically made it a strategic center within the Rehamna tribal territory and later a key node in national development strategies.
Demographics
According to the 2014 Moroccan census, Ben Guerir had a population of 88,626 inhabitants,[4] up from 62,693 in the 2004 census.[5]
By 2024, the population had increased to 114,872, reflecting continued growth over the previous two decades.[1]
Education
Ben Guerir is home to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), a major institution focusing on research, innovation, and sustainable development. The university played a central role in the city’s transformation into a knowledge and technology hub.[6]
Additionally, the city hosts the Lycée Mohammed VI d'Excellence, a selective high school that also offers post-secondary preparatory classes for admission to elite universities, with a strong focus on science and engineering.[7]
In December 2024, Ben Guerir was officially recognized as a UNESCO Learning City [8] for its efforts in promoting inclusive education, lifelong learning, and sustainable urban development.[2]
Economy
The city is a major center for the extraction and processing of phosphate rock, primarily operated by the OCP Group, one of the world's largest phosphate exporters.[9]
In recent years, OCP has spearheaded efforts to develop Ben Guerir into a model green city, integrating sustainable urban planning and environmental practices.[10]
Military
Ben Guerir hosts the Ben Guerir Air Base, which has strategic importance and contributes to the city’s military character.[3]
See also
- OCP Group
- University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
- Ben Guerir Air Base
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ben Guerir (Urban Commune, Morocco) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". https://www.citypopulation.de/en/morocco/marrakechsafi/admin/rehamna/4270101__ben_guerir/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "From literacy to digital libraries: How Benguerir is empowering its citizens through lifelong learning". 2024-12-01. https://www.uil.unesco.org/en/articles/literacy-digital-libraries-how-benguerir-empowering-its-citizens-through-lifelong-learning.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Joint Jump" (in en-US). https://www.war.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2003245182/.
- ↑ "POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D’APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014" (in ar, fr). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 8 April 2015. http://rgph2014.hcp.ma/file/166326/. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ↑ "Morocco 2004 Census". http://www.hcp.ma/Recensement-general-de-la-population-et-de-l-habitat-2004_a633.html.
- ↑ "Mohammed VI Polytechnic University" (in en). 2024-02-29. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/mohammed-vi-polytechnic-university.
- ↑ "Maroc : voyage au cœur du lycée d’excellence de Benguérir" (in fr-FR). https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1606888/societe/maroc-voyage-au-coeur-du-lycee-dexcellence-de-benguerir/.
- ↑ "UNESCO Global Network of Learning cities - Benguerir, Morocco". UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. 2020. https://www.uil.unesco.org/en/learning-cities/benguerir.
- ↑ "Opérations Industrielles" (in fr). https://www.ocpgroup.ma/fr/op%C3%A9rations-industrielles.
- ↑ Sylla, Adama (2024-09-29). "Ville Verte de Benguérir. Un modèle marocain de durabilité" (in fr-FR). https://www.challenge.ma/ville-verte-de-benguerir-un-modele-marocain-de-durabilite-287233/.
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