M'Sila ( Msila) is a province (wilaya) of northern Algeria. It has a population of 1 million people and an area of 18,718 km2, while its capital, also called M'Sila, home to M'Sila University, has a population of about 100,000. Localities include Bou Saada and Maadid. Chott El Hodna, a salt lake, crosses into M'Sila. However, most of the region is semi-arid and undeveloped. Additionally, M'Sila was the location of the first village constructed as part of a government-run program to transition nomadic Algerians to sedentary life using local materials. The village, now complete, was dubbed Maader and consists of houses, public and trading areas, and a mosque.

History

The province was created from parts of Batna (département), Médéa (département) and Sétif (département) in 1974.

Administrative divisions

The province is divided into 15 districts (daïras), which are further divided into 47 communes or municipalities.

Districts

Communes

Zawiya

The creation of the Zaouïa complex dates back to the 19th century, founded by born in 1823 in the vicinity of Hassi Bahbah in the Djelfa Province. After he died in 1897, his daughter Lalla Zaynab succeeded him until 1904. The zaouïa consists of a mosque, a Koranic school, and the mausoleum where the founder and his successors rest.