Mostaganem
City
Native nameمستغانم
CountryAlgeria
ProvinceMostaganem Province
DistrictMostaganem District
Area total50 km²
Population as of2014 census
Population total245330
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
Coordinates35°56′N 0°5′E
Elevation104 m
Postal code27000

Mostaganem (Arabic: مستغانم, Mustaghānim, ber: ⵎⵓⵙⵜⴰⵖⴰⵏⵎ) is a Mediterranean sea port and capital city of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria in the Gulf of Arzew. Founded in the 11th century as Murustage, the city is 72 kilometres (45 mi) ENE of Oran and has origins dating back to Punic and Roman times. In 1516, it was captured by the Ottoman admiral Barbarossa and became a center for Mediterranean Sea corsairs, as well as a commercial port. By 1700, it had come under Ottoman rule. In 1833, the city was taken by France and a garrison established. Algeria became independent in 1962. It is the second-largest city in the country's northwest, after Oran, and Algeria's fourth-largest port city with 406,190 inhabitants as of the 2019 census.[1]

Mostaganem is home to the medical provider and college, the University of Mostaganem which was established in 1979. The university is referred to locally as the University of Abdelhamid Ibn Badis (UMAB). The name is taken from Abdelhamid Ibn Badis who is a popular figure of Muslim reform movements in Algeria. The university offers curricula from bachelor's to doctorates in computer science as well as a medical doctorate.[2]

The city's major sports teams are ESA Mostaganem, and WA Mostaganem. Both are Algerian football teams and both play in the Mohamed Bensaïd Stadium.

Etymology

Mostaganem is said to correspond to the ancient Punic port of Murustaga. It is claimed that after becoming part of the Roman Empire, it was renamed to Cartennae under the emperor Gallienus (253–268).[3][better source needed] However, according to academics, Cartennae (or Cartenna or Cartennas) is modern Ténès, a town 50 km to the east of Mostaganem.[4][5] Murustaga is the name by which the town was known when it became a Christian bishopric, and by which it is referred to in the Catholic Church's list of episcopal sees.[6]

History

The town was ruled by the Zirid dynasty between 973 and 1146. Then, it was conquered by the Almoravid dynasty, and reached its high point of power under Yusuf ibn Tashfin (c. 1061–1106). Mostaganem was later ruled by the Zayyanid dynasty of Tlemcen and it was conquered again by the Marinid dynasty of Fes. After that the Zayyanid dynasty took control of the city again. In the 16th century, the town resisted a Spanish invasion and came under the power of the Ottoman Hayreddin Barbarossa.[3]

WWII

Navy battalions set sail aboard L.S.Ts (Landing Ship Tanks) towards an unknown destination, code named "Island X". Island X would turn out to be the Gulf of Arzew in Northern Algeria. In April 1943, US Navy forces "D" company arrived in Mostaganem to build an amphibious port. The port in Mostaganem was the largest base of its kind. It had electricity, running water, roads, a hospital, and pontoon shops. The arrival of Allied forces in Mostaganem were welcome and the locals were friendly towards the soldiers.[7]

Geography

The city of Mostaganem is divided by the ravine of the Wadi Ain Sefra (River) . Mostaganem is considered to consist of two regions, the modern Eastern quarter, and Western quarter with the old Muslim city, Tidgit. The port and beaches occupy the south.[8] The Ain Safra River flooded the city of Mostaganem in 1900. Though recently, the Cheliff River flooding has caused property damage and loss of life notably in 2000, 2001, 2010, and 2017.[9] The city has expanded three times its size between 1962 and 2004, claiming 18 km (11 mi) of coastal zone. This growth in combination with agricultural and industrial activities have caused environmental concerns.[9]

Tourism

The city of Mostaganem features a port on the Mediterranean Sea that has a ferry,[10] Amusement Park,[11] commercial district, religious heritage sites, and beaches.[12]

Climate

Mostaganem has a mild Mediterranean climates (Köppen climate classification Csa). In winter there is more rainfall than in summer. The average annual temperature in Mostaganem is 17.9 °C (64.2 °F). About 347 mm (13.66 in) of precipitation falls annually.

Present situation

In 2010, a tunnel under the city and toward the city center was completed to change traffic flow significantly. Also, new buildings, some modern and some in colonial style, are being added to this growing city. The new autoroute from the capital Algiers towards Oran will make it easier also to access Mostaganem by road from the capital, as Mostaganem has no public airport. The road connecting Oran (around 80 km from Mostaganem to the west) will remain the same, a crowded 2 lane in each direction highway.

The port of Mostaganem is being used for unloading of all sorts of cargo, ranging from provisions to cars and pipelines. As in most ports of Algeria, it is not allowed to sailors to exit the port and visit the city. The port is being shared by large transport vessels and fishing boats alike. A new, smaller port for fishing boats has been constructed, but is currently not used.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Armature urbaine (in French). Vol. 163/2011. Series S: Statistiques Sociales, Algeria. Office National des Statistiques. 2008. ISBN 978-9961-792-74-2. ISSN ((1111–5114)). Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "University of Mostaganem Abdelhamid Ibn Badis". studyinalgeria.dz. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  3. ^ Murustaga-Mostaganem Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ J. D. Fage, Roland Anthony Oliver (editors), The Cambridge History of Africa, Vol. 2 (Cambridge University Press 1978 Archived 22 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 978-0-52121592-3), p. 118
  5. ^ Early Christianity in North Africa François Decret, Early Christianity in North Africa (James Clarke & Co. 2014] Archived 22 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 978-0-22790308-7), p. 84
  6. ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 935
  7. ^ "54th Naval Construction Battalion Historical Information". www.history.navy.mil. Archived 2025-11-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  8. ^ "Mostaganem | Algeria, Mediterranean Coast, Port City". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived 2025-11-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  9. ^ Kikes, F; Aouniti, A; Corselli, C (July 2018). "Assessment of the coastal environment status in Western Algeria: Mostaganem case study". Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. – via Università Degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
  10. ^ "Mostaganem Ferries, Port Info & Travel Guide". ferryhopper. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  11. ^ "Mostaland animal barn and amusement park - Mostaland". mostaland.dz. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  12. ^ "Home - Direction of Tourism and Handicrafts Mostaganem". Direction of Tourism and Handicrafts Mostaganem. Archived 2025-05-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  13. ^ "Louis-Félix-François Franchet d'Esperey | WWI, Allied Victory, Armistice". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived 2025-07-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  14. ^ "Cheikh Hamada". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  15. ^ "Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi - The Sanusi Order". Ghayb.com. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  16. ^ "Mohamed Chouikh | Director, Actor, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  17. ^ "Shaykh Ahmad Al-'Alawi: Life and Work". www.worldwisdom.com. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  18. ^ "Rudefoucauld, Alain Julien – éditions do". www.editionsdo.fr. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  19. ^ "Abdelkader Ouali". www.myheritage.com. Retrieved 2026-02-13.