KENITRA

'Kenitra' (Arabic name: 'القنيطرة', transliterated: '', ''the little bridge'') is a city in Morocco, formerly known as 'Port Lyautey'. It is a port on the Sebou River, has a population of approximately 370,000 (2005 census) and is the capital of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region.

Contents

History

U.S. naval base

Areas and neighborhoods

Associations

Colleges and universities

Transportation

Sports

Natives from Kenitra

See also

External links

Reeferences and notes

History

Before the French protectorate, there was only a kasbah in the area where the modern city can today be found. Established in 1912 by Hubert Lyautey, the first Resident-General in Morocco, as a French military fort, harbor and town. The port at Kenitra was opened in 1913.^[1]
Kenitra draws its name from a culvert built on the Fouarat river upstream of the kasbah. This culvert was destroyed in 1928. In 1933, the French officially named the locale "Port Lyautey". It was renamed "Kenitra" in 1956 as Morocco gained it's independence.

U.S. naval base

After Operation Torch, the Americans used the French facilities as a base and later expanded Kénitra to become a
U.S. Naval Air Station.^[2] The base was shared by both the USA and Morocco through "The Cold War". A small out-station at Sidi Yahya closed in the mid 1970s. The Air-Station was closed in 1991.

Areas and neighborhoods

★ Médina

★
★ ''Khabazate''

★ Modern city

★
★ ''Bir Rami''

★
★ ''Mimosa''

★
★ ''Ville Haute''

★ Popular districts

★
★ ''Saknia''

Associations

★ Association Nationale des Professeurs agreges du Maroc -ANAPAM- (ANAPAM)

Colleges and universities

★ Université Ibn Tofail (UIT)

★ ENCG Kénitra (École Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion de Kénitra)

★ HECI Kénitra (Hautes Etudes Commerciales et Informatiques)

Transportation

The city is served by two railway stations: ''Kenitra-Ville'' and ''Kenitra-Medina''.
A shutttle train, TNR, connects the city, every 30 minutes, to Rabat and Casablanca .

Sports

★ KAC Kenitra ; the local football club.

★ Ajax Kenitra ; the local futsal club.

Natives from Kenitra

Kenitra was the birthplace of:

★ Said Aouita, Olympic athlete

★ Amina Ait Hammou, Olympic athlete

★ Youssef Chippo, International football player

★ Hamid Oucherfi, Mayor of shandon, established international socialite.

★ Mahjoub Oucherfi,Greatest most prolific citizen in recent history

See also

★ Hubert Lyautey

External links

★ Entry in Lexicorient

★ BTS Genie Informatique Lycee Technique Ibn Sina

★ Association Nationale des Professeurs Agreges du Maroc - ANAPAM -

★ Pictures of U.S. Naval base facilities in Kenitra

Reeferences and notes

1. ''Kénitra depuis 1912''
2. ''History of Port Lyautey''