| Béni Abbès بلدية بني عباس |
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| — Municipality — | |||
| Commune of Béni Abbès | |||
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Béni Abbès
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Algeria | ||
| Province | Bechar | ||
| District | Béni Abbès (coextensive) | ||
| Government | |||
| • PMA president | Bouhada Abdellah (2007–2012) | ||
| • PMA Seats | |||
| Population (2001) | |||
| • Total | 12,000 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+01) | ||
| Postal code | 08300 | ||
| ONS code | |||
Béni Abbès (Arabic: بني عباس) also known as the Pearl of the Saoura[1][2] also as the White Oasis[3][4], is a city located in southwest Algeria in Béchar Province, 250 km far from the capital of the Province and 1 200 km from Algiers.
It is capital of a district since 1957, its area is approximately 10,040 km2 with a population of 12,000 inhabitants.
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Béni Abbès, in Arabic بني عباس, Bani Abbas ("The children of Abbas"), C.Rames explains in his book Beni-Abbes (Oran Sahara): Historical, geographical and medical study (1941) that the origin of the name comes in the name of the tribe of the first occupant of the city : «Forty years after the death of Sidi Othman, in the distant Saguia el-Hamra (Western Sahara), El Mahdi Ben Youssef from the tribe of Beni Abbes»[5].
Even the name of Beni-Abbes derives from the old one which was in Arabic بني العباس, Bani Al Abbas ("The children of El-abbas") As quoted by El Ayachi in his manuscript Arrihla al ayachia (1662) : «Then we entered the villages of Bani Al Abbas ...»[6].
Béni Abbès is built on a rocky hill on the left bank of Wadi Saoura. The city is bordered to the north, east and west by the Grand Erg Occidental and south and southwest by the valley of the Saura[7]. The mountain's most interesting in Béni Abbès is the chains Ougarta (next to the oasis of Ougarta)[8].
Béni Abbès enjoys a hot and arid desert climate. There is no rain, little or sometimes occasional rains that cause flooding or flood Wadi Saoura. The sky is always blue winter and summer.
December, January and February are the coldest months, when it is between one and 18 °C. During the summer months, temperatures can reach 45 °C with a humidity of about 10%.
The Saharan ecosystem dominates all the territory of Béni Abbès, flora and fauna are not as extensive as in other parts of Algeria, however, there is a staggering variety of plants and creatures have been found here. Most surprising is the range of flora and fauna that has survived in this desert and arid climate.
The vegetation of Béni Abbès is essentially desert-like. Rare rainfall affect the plant development in different types of terrains sectors: Hamada, Erg and Wadi.
Acacia trees and wild herbs are scattered on the mountain and Hamada, especially near Zeghamra. Some wild herbs in the region are medicinal and used by people traditionally to treat many diseases among other Ouezouaza (Santolina rosmarinifolea), Gartofa (Santolina chamaycyparissus)[9]'[10] and Shih (Artemisia herba-alba), Terfesse (Terfeziaceae) a mushroom used by the Abbassian gastronomy in stead of meat[11].
At Erg, grows an excellent fixative of the dunes Rtéme (Retama raetam)[12]. The predominant plant of Wadi is the Fnine (Tamarix) a resistant plant of saline soils.
Many species of Saharian regions animal are reported in Béni Abbès:
Mammals most important is the Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas) and Rhim (Gazella leptoceros)[13] highly threatened by uncontrolled hunting. The Sand Cat (Felis margarita), Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and the Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda) are rarely observed.
Can be counted among the Reptiles that exist in the region; the Sandfish (Scincus scincus), the dob (Uromastyx) and other species. There are also among rodents Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus), Greater Egyptian Gerbil (Gerbillus pyramidum) and the Libyan Jird (Meriones libycus).
Among birds that can signaled in Béni Abbès ther is Bou-Ali (Passer domesticus), Bou-Tkelem (Passer hispaniolensis)[14] and raptors such as El-Béz (Accipiter gentilis)[15], Skàr (Falco biarmicus)[16] and El-bouma (Athene noctua)[17].
In the recent decades or hundreds of years, we reported the extinction of many animal species due to drought and lack of prey, Al-naàme (Struthio camelus)[18][19] and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) for example[20].
Just after the French occupation of the region and within the territories of South, Béni Abbès became an indigenous municipality in the Territory of Aïn Séfra which existed between 1902 and 1957[21][22][23][24]. In that time, Tindouf and once occupied, is pegged to the indigenous municipality of Béni Abbès until 1935.
In 1957, After replacing the territories of South by the French Departments of Sahara it became a district in the Saoura Department which the prefecture was at Colomb-Bechar[25].
At Algerian independence, Beni Abbes was a district of Saoura Department with Béchar, Adrar, El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh, Timimoun and Tindouf until 1974 when the administrative division divided the department into two Provinces Adrar containing Timimoun District and Béchar with El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh, Béni Abbès and Tindouf.
After the new administrative division of 1984 which gives to Tindouf and El-Bayadh the title of Province, Béni Abbès remains a District. Only in 2009 it was put on the list of new delegates Provinces[26].
The territory of Beni-Abbes was inhabited during prehistoric[27], and the rock carvings of Marhouma region evidenced[28][29].
The Petroglyph of the region dates back to Neolithic, Less famous than the Tassili rock paintings But these being studied since 1863.
The ideological panel of Marhouma is a complex remarkable scene : «An orant (praying person) on his head a crossed disk and connected to a mammal, surrounded by a wounded animal topped by a young man and a snake man (homme serpentiforme).»
participants constitute a closed chain; the prayer of the orant links between the sacred animal, the hunter, represented by the snake line and game[30].
Except some conclusions of historians There is no information about this period of history of Béni Abbès, based on evidence dating from this period which include:
The first settlers in the area were from the Beni Hassan tribe; built two Ksour Ghar el-Diba and Haresse Lil (night watchman). they migrated to Saguia el-Hamra and Mauritania in the 12th century[31].
The history of the founding of the current Beni-Abbes begins with the legend of Sidi Othman called "El Gherib" and his companion Sid Enoun, By the blessing of Sidi Othmane Water gushes and the country is no longer a desert, the vegetation developing and the valley became full of reeds, trees and pastures.[32]
Forty years after these first migrations, from Seguia el-Hamra Mehdi Ben Youssef (descendant of Beniabbes of the Beni Hassan tribe) came to Béni Abbès. He live with Ali Ben Moumen from Arib tribe, with whom he brought the palm trees of Wadi Draa. They founded the Ksar Oulad Mehdi where live Mehdi Ben Youssef's son (Said and Youssef) and Ali Ben Moumen's son (Mohamed)[5].
The region has lived in peace and prosperity of agriculture and trade, this brought him a large number of immigrants[5].
From At-Lamiz in Figuig, two brothers left the Ksar towards the east, Ali Ben Yahia accompany by Khalfi bin Abdel-wassàa who settled in Beni-Abbes and his brother founded a brotherhood in the Charouine region (Gourara)[33]. Ali Ben Yahia was a man with broad experience in agriculture. he founded the Ksar Ouled Rahu occupied by Moulay and Rahu Ali Ben Yahia's sons[5].
After a period, Moussa Ben Ali come from Tamentit[5] Others say from Gourara to settle at Beni-Abbes in the fourteenth century. Most probably it came from Tamentit, but his tribe before settling to Tamentit came from Gourara[34].
In 1593, the Moroccan rebel Abu Mahali (in Arabic أحمد بن عبد الله بن قاضي) settled in Beni-Abbes. El Ayachi in his handwritten Arrihla al ayachia 1662 say :«... personage who was placed in a state of open rebellion, sedition which began in this town. Today his house is still known and we watch for travelers»[34].
The continuous development and prosperity of the region brought him many enemies, including Ghenanma. A long period of Ghazi, push the Abbabsa to complaint against the Ghenanma to the King of Fes. Soldiers of Makhzen (Mkhaznia) leaves Fes towards Beni-Abbes, they pass through the road by Zaouiet Men-Laikhaf in Tafilalt, from where a marabout called Mohamed Ben-Abdeslam join the troupe[5].
On arrival at Beni-Abbes the Mkhaznia beat Ghenanma. the Abbabsa they were in separate ksour, Ask of Mohamed Ben Abdeslam to settle with them for the Koran education. he accepted on condition that they build a new Ksar, very well fortified in the palm grove, they accept and leaving the choice of location to the marabout[5].
Mohamed Ben Abdeslam founded the new Ksar in the palm grove in 1605 and named Beni-Abbes[35].
A little later Taleb Belkacem Ben Abdelah arrived in the area from Tmentite.[5].
The descendants of these people, along with the Haratines, made up the population of Ababsa. Another group of settlers, Ghenanma (Ouled Hamou) lived in an independent ksar.
Beni-Abbes was occupied by the French the March ,1 1901. General officer Risbourg has visited March 2 of that year.
The Act of March 30, 1902 which stipulated the establishment of five Saharan companies commanded by Affairs Indigenous officers. The Saoura's company in Beni-Abbes was strengthen by six officers and two hundred and two Non-commissioned officers and Méharistes. included a command platoon and three Méharistes platoons[36].
1904 the creation of two Saharan Companies, one at Beni-Abbes, the other at Colomb-Bechar. These arrangements were for the defensive organization of the Algerian-Moroccan border[36].
In October 1901, "Foucauld Father" settled in Beni-Abbes. He built with the help of soldiers present a "Khaoua" (fraternity)[A 1], composed of a room, a chapel and three acres of garden[A 2], purchased by the help of Marie de Bondy. The chapel was completed on December, 1 1901. His life revolves around a strict rule: five hours of sleep, six hours of manual work interspersed with long time of prayer[B 1]. However, it is quickly overwhelmed by the long time it takes to listen to the poor and the soldiers who come to see[A 3][B 2]. he describes to Gabriel Tourdes his soul state : «living work of my hands, and unknown to all the poor and enjoy the deep darkness, silence, poverty, in imitation of Jesus. Imitation is inseparable from love. Whoever wants to imitate love is the secret of my life. Priest since last June, I immediately felt called to go to the lost sheep, to the most abandoned souls, to perform towards them the duty of love. I am happy, very happy, although I do not in any way seek happiness»[A 3].
On January 9, 1902, he bought the freedom of a first slave he called Joseph du Sacré-Cœur (Joseph of the Sacred Heart). A portion of the year 1902 is devoted to an exchange of correspondence with Bishop Guerin, Apostolic prefect of Sahara, about his fight against slavery in the Hoggar. The following year, he thinks for voyages to Morocco and install a fraternity. He would be joined by companions whom he would ask three things : «be prepared to have his head cut off - be prepared to starve - to obey him despite his unworthiness».
On May 27, 1903 Charles de Foucauld visited by Bishop Guerin[A 4]. Charles is looking for a companion for evangelism and asks to go south to prepare for it[A 5]. the commander François-Henry Laperrine interested in the presence of Charles de Foucauld and tries to get him on his tour of supply to the south[A 6][F 1]. Charles showed himself even more favorable than François-Henry Laperrine seems to use methods much less violent than its predecessors[F 2]. On June 18, 1903 Charles asked Bishop Guerin permission to accompany Laperrine, but the rebellion of the tribes against the colonial presence makes this approach impossible. Learning the opening of this conflict, however, Charles left to the South on September 2, 1903 in order to rescue the wounded from the Battle of Taghit and El-Moungar[F 3]. He comes back and writes a short introduction to the Catechism which he entitled The Gospel presented to the poor negroes of the Sahara. Sometime later, François-Henry Laperrine asked him to come with him during the upcoming tour of supply in the South. Abbe Henri Huvelin wrote him to «go where you shoot the Spirit»[A 7].
Charles toured Supply January 13, 1904, on the air south toward the Hoggar[F 3][B 3]. February 1, 1904 he and his companions arrived at Adrar oasis where they join the commander Laperrine[F 4]. The tour continues towards Akabli. Charles then noted all the possible places of installation[F 3]. It collects information on Tuareg languages from the people of the central south Sahara[A 8] and there began the translation of the Gospels in order to transmit it to the Touaregs[B 4].
He discovers the attitude of some military Colonial who disappoints him[A 8][B 5][B 6]. Arriving near the Algerian border in the course of stabilization, Tour of supply must turn around and join Tit[A 9]. Charles wants to settle in but the commander Laperrine refused. The tour ends at In Salah in September. Charles joined Bishop Guerin on September 22, 1904 and he returned to Beni-Abbes 24 January 1905[A 10].
Intrigued by Charles de Foucauld, General Hubert Lyautey, appointed in Algeria, decides to visit him at Beni-Abbes in January, 28 1905[A 11]. From this meeting comes a reciprocal friendship[F 5] and a certain admiration of Lyautey for Charles[B 7]. Charles wrote during this period the Meditations on the Holy Gospels[B 7]. In April 1905, Commander Laperrine requests Charles de Foucauld to leave with him on a tour in the Hoggar. Having sought advice from the abbot Huvelin and Bishop Guerin, he participated in a new tours of supply[F 6][A 12]. He starts on June 8, 1905, continues his prayer life while learning Tamahaq. Le 25 Juin, 1905, ils rencontrent amenokal (chef de tribu) Moussa Ag Amastan, who decides to make an alliance with the French authority[B 8]. Charles de Foucauld and Moussa Ag Amastan discover themselves and seem to appreciate each other. Their meeting comes a deep friendship[F 7]. The Touareg authorizes Charles de Foucauld to settle in the Hoggar[A 13], what is it going towards Tamanrasset[A 14].
In the Saoura region, Beni-Abbes always been an important focus of the national movement. In 1921, Saadoune (born in Beni-Abbes) emigrated to France where he militates to Étoile Nord-Africaine (ENA) then designated as a member committee central of the part in 02/07/1926[37].
Since the purpose of the thirties, Beni-Abbes was the exile place of several political and historical Algerian figures such as Ferhat Abbas, Mohammed Memchaoui[38], cheikh Abdelkader El Yadjouri et cheikh Sliman Boudjnah.
In late 1947, Sheikh Touhami an MTLD activist[39] comes from Béchar at Beni-Abbes to found an office for his political party. The Ababsa well sensitized and who have already attended the exiled persons to their homes, do not hesitate to join the movement. The Bureau consists of four people, Touhami Tayeb, Trabelsi Boufeldja, Abdellah Ben-cheikh and Benali Abderrahman remain in service until 1954, date where the majority of activists are transferred to the FLN, Ababsa participated in the war of National Liberation between 1954 and 1962[40].
On November 11, 1955, the French discovered the names of those involved in the struggle, the members imprisoned at Beni-Abbes, the officials transferred to Béchar or have been tried and transferred to Serkadji prison. After members release , they continued the fight with Trabelsi Boufeldja who escaped detention and Mohammed Yacoub's writer Taleb-Zian[40].
After applying the policy of concentration camps by France at Beni-Abbes and terror politics applied to some ksour, a mujahid (Chikimi Mebrok) exploded a bomb in the middle of a group of French soldiers as retaliation for France's actions in the region. He was arrested and executed a few minutes after[40].
Consequently, the region Recruits with the French army fled to join the ALN into two groups; The first, led by Alla Ben-Lhachemi managed to escape with possession of a quantity of arms and ammunition, the second led by Sellam Ali was arrested in Béchar[40].
Re-organization of National Liberation Army's military base of Hassi Ali under the leadership of Alhadj chebir who fled in turn of the French army[40][41].
In October 1957, the inhabitants of Ksar of the palm are expelled by the French troops because of the activities of the Mujahideen and must build a new Ksar[42].
After 1960, the city witnessed several visits of Mohamed Chérif Messaadia loaded with other officers under the command of Abdelaziz Bouteflika called Si Abdelkader El Mali to opening the front Mali, organized military operations against French interests and fight against the French strategy of secession of the Sahara from the rest of Algeria[43][44].
Members of the ALN in the region participated in various battles against the French troops, sacrifice their lives for freedom. It is among the Shahids, Mazozi Cheick, Touhami Tayeb, Belghit Hmida, Hamdi Ahmed and others.
The Franco-Russian geologist Nicolas Menchikoff (About 1900 - 1992[45]) began his research in the region during the twenties, in 1942 the creation of the SRC (Saharan Research Center) in Beni-Abbes whose he became director[46] for several years.
In 1946, together with the general government of Algeria, the BRP (Bureau de recherche de pétrole) creates the Société Nationale de Recherche et d'Exploitation de Pétrole en Algérie (SN REPAL) Headquartered in Hydra at the top of the city of Algiers. With the creation of this company, geological research began in 1948, in association with CFP (French Petroleum Company) in the region of Beni-Abbes, Timimoun and In Salah but without any results.
In 1972, the management of Saharan research center founded by the CNRS (Current National Center for Research on Arid Zones) is transmitted to the Algerian authorities and depends since to the University of Science and Technology, Houari Boumediene (Bab Ezzouar, Algiers).
July 5, 1962, the declaration of Algerian Independence, Algerian flag raising at béni abbès while preserving the French forces in the city according to the Évian Accords and respect the Ceasefire[47][48]. A delegation of Mujahideen was founded in Beni-Abbes with Alla Ben Lhachemi as political leader and military officials[40].
Between 1961 and 1965, the Organization Saharan scored his action in line with that of the OCRS and built 1,000 km of additional roads, including the following segments: Béni-Abbès – Adrar, Touggourt – El-Oued, In-Amenas – El-Adeb[49].
October 1962 installation of the 2nd REI at Colomb-Bechar available to the command of military sites in the Sahara (nuclear weapon and the space facilities of Hammaguir[47].
The political management of the city were well Algerian and the first mayor appointed is Ben Said Mokhtar that remains in place until 1967 date of the first elections of Communal People's Assemblies.
1963 the creation of the Beni-Abbes's CP and Tabelbala's CP from Colomb-Bechar Regiment[47]. 1967 France has evacuated four military French facilities remain active in the Sahara after independence except B2-Namous, Following this action the company of Béni Abbès is removed too.
Until 1971 the city were governed by Mr. Mohamed Maamar[50] locally called Ba Maamar Because of his humility and closeness to the people.
From 1976 to 1981 under the governance of Guesmia Boudjemmâa known by El-Montassir[51][52][53] (Died June 8, 2009). the city saw the construction of the bridge at the entrance of the city, the commissioning of antennas for receiving television programs.
If historic neighborhoods (Safat, Tlayat, Souiguiat) combine the islamic and local architecture, the hill with its buildings and its front Oued is representative of French and modern architecture.
The district seat and Citroen home overlooking the cliff are the representative type of French architecture of colonial era. We can add to this architectural type the seat of the Saharan Research Center, the old infirmary and the colonists neighborhood called "Karté".
Historic neighborhoods retain the old architecture, even if the surface of dwellings has changed, construction method and building materials remains almost the same[42] until the last time, or there was the introduction of new materials such as Cement and cement brick. the oldest mosque in the new-city is in Safat which dates from 1957 (the Mosque of Ksar, 1605).
A nearby neighborhood of Souiguiat built and inhabited by Jews, from the beginning of the twentieth century to the dawn of the independence of Algeria. These Jews brought back by the French authorities benefit of decree of October 24, 1870 which gives French citizenship to 37 000 algerian Jews[54]
Here where the harmony of religions has long been the norm, we find various places of worship. There are religious buildings of the two abrahamic religions, for Judaism we was not able to determine one.
The oldest religious building is the old-Ksar's mosque, which dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century (1605), then the chapel of Father Charles de Foucauld (1901)[55]. All other buildings are a mosques or Koranic schools Founded after the abundance of old Ksar in 1957.
Beni-Abbes has several patron saints ((Arabic) Aoulia Allah Salihin) for which are dedicated mausoleums ((Arabic) Goubba).
in beni Abbes there are a tens tombs of saints[56] but except two have a mausoleum. We have two patron saints for all Abbabsa:
The two mausoleums existing at Beni-Abbes are dedicated to:
The rest are tribal saints listed in the following list:
the Sidi Othman Cemetery is a common name between two cemeteries at a time, the burial place of the current city and the burial place of the saint Sidi Othman el-Gharib which is considered the oldest in the city (no information on the burial places of the Beni Hassan).
The old cemeteries dating from the time prior to the founding of the old Ksar; Sidi Mohamed Ben Abbou Cemetery, Sidi Ali Ben Yahia Cemetery, and Sidi El Hadj Mhamed Ben Ahmed Cemetery.
Beni-Abbes had cemeteries for the burial of people of different of abrahamic religions, a Christian cemetery on the plateau (near the current clinic) and in the other side of the Charles de Foucauld chapel in addition to a cemetery for the burial of Jews.
There is also a brand new cemetery dedicated to martyrs of the war of National Liberation, at the entrance to the city on the left side of the road.
Béni Abbès Museum[59] located in the Saharan Research Center. It was created because of the richness of this region contains important treasures in a radius of 50 kilometers with different geological structures, Flora and Fauna. It contains seven sections focus on Beni-Abbes and its region: Prehistory, old Beni-Abbes, natural history, Archaeology, Entomology, flora and fauna.
Traditional songs of Beni-Abbes such as El Maya and El Hadra accompanied by percussion of Tara and Kallal, singing Local Arabic poetry in different rhythms (folklore).
since a long time, Beni-Abbes was the venue for several cultural events:
the Festival nights Saoura's is a cooperation between both Algerian association Hillal Saoura and French Nuits Métis[69] to organizing an international annual festival of music in Beni-Abbes, 1st edition takes place in December 2003/January 2004[70][71].
Each year at Beni-Abbes held the Mouloud feast (Birth of Prophet of Islam Muhammad) this is an opportunity for the presentation of new-born past-year, and a grand parade with music and old rifles, commemorating peace between the tribes and the founding of the Ksar of the palm grove[72].
The Ababsa uses like all Muslim the Lunar calendar to determine the religious events, local and local-religious (Eid el-Fitr, Eid el-Kabir, Ashura, Arafa ...) but giving each month a special appellation as shown below[72].
| months in Arabic | local name (m) |
|---|---|
| Muharram (en Arabe: محرم) | Achour (عاشور) |
| Safar (en Arabe: صفر) | Tabea ʻĀshwr (تابع عاشور) |
| Rabi' al-awwal (en Arabe: ربيع الأول) | El-Mouloud (المولود) |
| Rabi' al-thani (en Arabe: ربيع الثاني) | Tab'eo lawel (تابعو لول) |
| Jumada al-awwal (en Arabe: جمادى الأول) | Tab'eo jawége (تابعو الجاوج) |
| Jumada al-Thani(en Arabe: جمادى الثاني) | ... |
| Rajab(en Arabe: رجب) | ch-har al-Lah (شهر الله) |
| Sha'aban(en Arabe: شعبان) | Chaabane (شعبان) |
| Ramadan(en Arabe: رمضان) | Remdan (رمضان) |
| Shawwal(en Arabe: شوال) | El-Aïd Sghir (العيد الصغير) |
| Dhu al-Qi'dah(en Arabe: ذو القعدة) | Bin-Laïad (بين لعياد) |
| Dhu al-Hijjah(en Arabe: ذو الحجة) | El-Aïd al-Kbīr (العيد لكبير) |
The fabric educational in Beni-Abbes has two Middle school, one secondary school (Ibn al-Baitar)[73], a vocational training center and paramedic training classes. but it does not contain any higher education institution.
NCRAZ (Beni-Abbes 's station) is the only research station in Beni-Abbes houses a museum (collections of local ethnography, geology, prehistory, and zoology), a zoo (very few animals present but still among them a great tortoise), a botanical garden and a biological research laboratory.
Abbassian Gastronomy is rich of different cultures that mix in Beni-Abbes, it is strongly influenced by Moroccan culinary traditions, and rich in local specificities, marked by traditional dishes very varied which include:
The creation of associations in Beni-Abbes starts since the Act of December 4, 1990. They have successfully engaged in the fields of exchange, youth camps and Volunteer projects such as ADESF[74] and Ouarourout Association[75], environmental protection, maintenance and renewal of cultural heritage, including music (El-Maya Association, Hillal Saoura), promotion of handicrafts, sand skiing, camel racing organization (El-Khayma Association[76][77]).
Tourism is the perspective economic sector to be developed, we can distinguish several types of tourism[78]:
The ksours: Beni-Abbes includes seven ksour, some of which are still inhabited. The most beautiful is the Ksar placed at the heart of the palm grove (a unique type of location in the Sahara), Uninhabited since 1957 and is being restored, classified as national architectural heritage[79].
The palm grove: is beautiful in scorpion form[80], whose tail is dominated by a large red sand dune (the highest of the Grand Erg Occidental).
The swimming pool fed by a spring of pure water coming out at 24 degrees (warm in winter, cool in summer).
China Wall of Carboniferous: 30 km from Beni Abbes, on the left side of the road to El Ouata is the deposit of Orthoceras (Fossils of molluscs and fish)[81].
The city has no industrial base, which explains the high rate of unemployment reached 60%[82] of population in working age.
Currently, apart the Power station which has a capacity of 4 × 5 MW TG (2008)[83] Beni-Abbes has no industry.
the Power station of Beni-Abbes aliment all villages between Igli and Bent-Cherk until 2010 where the villages between Kerzzaz and Bent-Cherk depend on the Charouine station. The electrification rate is assessed at 95% but it should be noted that the region has not yet supplied with Town gas[82].
A project of 17 billion DA for a pipeline over 300 kilometers to supply in Town gas the Districts of Béni-Abbés, Béchar, Kénadsa, Abadla, Taghit and Béni Ounif, the work launched in 2010[84].
Beni-Abbes can be an important investment location for the basic structure it has. Carbonated water factory inactive for the moment she were in office during the eighties with the socialist system and between 1998 and 2001 with the private sector. The bottling company of Ain Sidi Othmane water blocked for a long time[82].
In addition the city has real potential to produce Glass, Tile and Porcelain[82].
the Beni-Abbes palm grove is 40 hectar[82] does not ensure food self-sufficiency for a population of 13,000 inhabitants, knowing that most fields were abandoned because of inheritance, lack of water and labor in other sectors that have higher profitability.
The useful agricultural area is 415 hectar spread over several locations of the Municipality with the largest estimated area of jouiffa (120 hectar), just 05% of the plots are electrified[82], Ain Seguia, Ouarourout, Zghamra, etc. There are 250 fellah, many of whom have abandoned their fields because of the scarcity of water[7][82].
the Beni-Abbes palm grove is affected for first time by the Fusarium in 1908[85], disease appeared in 1870 in south Moroccans[85]. a strain of Fusarium oxysporum was isolated in 1998 from the land of the Beni Abbes palm grove[86].
Beni-Abbes territory contains many minerals such as sand[87], useful for the production of brick and limestone clicks and hollow glass. the Other minerals are concentrated mainly in mountainous areas of Ougarta, a satellite photo of Ougarta's chain shows important mining areas containing mineral deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron, manganese, barium, arsenic, tungsten, strontium and an association of lead, which is mixed with zinc[88].
Beni-Abbes has a limited transportation means, the Bus Station covers all the movement needs of citizens with local lines to Béchar, Igli, El Ouata, Kerzaz and Ouled Khodeïr, and an Extra-Province line to Adrar.
The opening of the new road between Beni-Abbes and El Ouata was going going out the ksours between these two cities of anonymity, this project has cost the sum of 30,033,900 DA[89].
In addition to transport by bus, Beni-Abbes has an aerodrome[90] dating back to colonial era. The realization of a railway between Beni-Abbes and Bechar is under study[91].
Among the most important practices of sports in Béni-Abbes, football, handball, athletics and other less common such as skiing on sand, volleyball and swimming.
Beni-Abbes had a football club since the late fifties, one of the oldest clubs in the region but it has not performed well for the lack of means.
The best-known athletes who trace their origins to Beni-Abbes:
The first of them is Ben Said Mokhtar named directly after independence in July 1962. The second was Trabelsi Muhammad, the first PAPC (president of the Communal People's assembled).
mayors List of Beni-Abbes
heads of Béni Abbès District are presented in the following table:
| Nom et Prénom | Période de travail |
|---|---|
| Mohamed Maamar | 1967–1971 |
| Guesmia Boudjemmâa "El-Montassir" | 1976–1981 |
| Saci Ahmed Abdelhafid[95] | 1992–1997 |
| Raouani Mahmoud | 1997–2002 |
| Mehdi Khouazem | 2002–2007 |
| Mohamed Habri[96] | Octobre 2009- ... |
Beni-Abbes is twinned with the following cities:
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