Souk-Ahras (called in the past Thagaste) is a city and wilaya of Algérie.

Etymology

Souk-Ahras is extracted from the word Berbère will ahras which means “Lion” (in Tifinagh: ), because of the presence of these animals until last century in its timbered forests, and souk of the Arab “gone” (rear RTL سوق).

History

Birthplace of Holy Augustin, bishop of Hippone, Souk-Ahras played a big role in the political and cultural history of Algeria because of its strategic position. Crossroads of civilizations numide, then Roman and finally Berber it was the place of military fortifications (Madaure, Tifèche, Khemissa…) that centres urban. During the French Colonization, it became an important commercial city ensuring the exchanges between the south, the Algerian North-East and Tunisia. To independence, it entered declining in spite of the fact that a great number of the political directors and soldiers of the country of it were originating.

Geography

Geographically, it is located in a basin, surrounded by mountains timbered like Djebel Boussalah. It is also crossed by one of principal the Maghrebian wadi, the Medjerda.

Souk Ahras east one of the wilayas of the last Algerian administrative cutting which goes back to 1985. Before this year the wilayas were 31, they are currently 48. The code wilaya (department) of Souk Ahras east 41.