Tangier-Assilah Prefecture

Located in the extreme northwestern part of Morocco, Tangier-Assilah Prefecture is bordered to the north by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea, and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It is bounded to the south by Larache Province and to the east by Fahs-Anjra Province. The territory is highly urbanized around the city of Tangier, a major economic and port hub, while the surrounding areas retain a more rural character. == History ==

The territory of present-day Tangier-Assilah Prefecture has a long history linked to its strategic position at the junction of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The region has been inhabited since antiquity by various civilizations, including Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Roman, as evidenced by nearby archaeological sites. It later formed part of successive political entities that ruled Morocco during the medieval and modern periods. The cities of Tangier and Assilah have historically played an important role in trade and cultural exchanges due to their maritime position and their location on routes linking Europe and Africa. == Administrative divisions ==

According to the administrative division established in 2008 and amended in 2009, the prefecture is composed of twelve communes. It includes three urban municipalities: Tangier, Assilah, and Gueznaia, as well as nine rural communes grouped within the circle of Assilah: • caïdat of Boukhalef: Hjar Ennhal; • caïdat of Dar Chaoui: Dar Chaoui and Al Manzla; • caïdat of Laaouama: Laaouama and Sebt Azzinate; • caïdat of Gharbia: Aquouass Briech and Had Al Gharbia; • caïdat of Sidi Lyamani: Sahel Chamali and Sidi Lyamani. Four localities are considered cities: the municipalities of Tangier and Assilah, as well as the urban centers of the rural communes of Dar Chaoui and Sidi Lyamani. The municipality of Tangier is subdivided into four arrondissements: Bni Makada, Charf-Mghogha, Charf-Souani, and Tangier-Medina. == Demography ==