Beni Mellal

Beni Mellal (بني ملال) is a city in north-central Morocco. It is the capital of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra Region and has a population of 192,676 (2014 census). It sits at the foot of Jbel Tassemit (2247 m), next to the plains of Beni Amir. The modern town dates back to 1688, when Moulay Isma'il founded a kasbah (fort).

History
Historical Arabic sources do not offer clear details about this site during the medieval period. (حصن دائي), a town that was given to the Idrisid prince Yahya ibn Idris (son of Idris II) to rule during the 9th century, may correspond to the site of present Beni Mellal. It was later captured by the Almohads in 1141.

In 1688, the Alawi sultan Moulay Isma'il built a kasbah (fort) here and the current town developed around it. The kasbah was restored in the 19th century by Moulay Sliman and again in 1916 by the French Protectorate administration. In 1918, the town had a recorded population of approximately 3000. During the Protectorate, authorities invested in the area's agricultural infrastructure, which helped the city grow into a major urban centre. Today it is also regional administrative center.

Climate
Beni Mellal has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with very hot summers and cool winters. As the city lies quite far inland and is shielded by the Middle Atlas mountains, the climate is highly continental. Because of these factors the overall climate can be considered in a fluctuative state generally moderating between two larger extremes in temperature and climate. Rainfall can reach up to 500 mm per year, snow can also fall in winter.

Transport
Beni Mellal is served by Beni Mellal Airport.

Education
In Beni Mellal is located Sultan Moulay Slimane University.

Notable people

 * Abde Ezzalzouli - Professional footballer
 * Hicham Sigueni - Long-distance runner
 * Mohamed El Badraoui - Former footballer