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Oppidum Novum

Aïn Defla
عين الدفلى
Municipality
Commune of Aïn Defla
Coat of arms of Aïn Defla
Coat of arms
Aïn Defla is located in Algeria
Aïn Defla
Aïn Defla
Location of Aïn Defla within Algeria
Coordinates: 36°15′55″N 1°58′13″E / 36.2652°N 1.9703°E / 36.2652; 1.9703Coordinates: 36°15′55″N 1°58′13″E / 36.2652°N 1.9703°E / 36.2652; 1.9703
Country  Algeria
Province Aïn Defla (seat)
District Aïn Defla (coextensive)
Government
 • PMA Seats 11
Elevation 980 m (3,220 ft)
Population (1998)
 • Total 52,276
Time zone CET (UTC+01)
Postal code 44000
ONS code 4401
Climate Csa

Aïn Defla (Arabic: عين الدفلى‎‎, lit. oleander spring) is the capital city of Aïn Defla Province, Algeria. It is also a commune.

In Roman times the city was called Oppidum Novum. The vestiges of the Oppidum Novum are still visible.

The current city was founded in the 20th century by a soldier named Ahmed Mahmoudi of the rank of agha, with the idea of bringing together the indigenous populations from the villages of the region.

This region of uneven terrain, which was considered unstable and dangerous by the French during the Algerian War, had for this reason been declared a forbidden zone.

In the 1990s, the same region was a stronghold of the Groupe islamique armé (GIA).


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