Annaba and its port: Historical trajectory and urban transformations in the Mediterranean context, from antiquity to the contemporary era

Abstract

This article traces, from a diachronic and comparative perspective, the trajectory of the city of Annaba, from the Phoenician trading post of Hippo to the major port expansion megaproject launched in 2024. It examines how the port has shaped the urban fabric of Annaba over the long term. The study has a twofold objective. On the one hand, it seeks to understand how the evolution of the port’s economic, logistical and symbolic functions shapes the city’s morphological, functional and social transformations. On the other hand, it aims to situate Annaba within the family of industrial Mediterranean port cities, highlighting its Maghreb-specific characteristics and its integration into regional networks.

The central research question examines the sequences of integration, dissociation and subsequent attempts at reconnection between the waterfront, the historic medina, the colonial center and the industrial extensions. It is framed within the broader restructuring of global maritime networks and the growing importance of heritage, landscape and environmental issues.

To address this question, the research employs a multidisciplinary methodology combining urban history, port geography and morphological analysis. It draws on a corpus spanning several centuries: archaeological data relating to Hippo Regius, accounts by medieval Arab geographers, colonial archives on urban planning and port development, contemporary urban studies and institutional reports on the port’s development, as well as recent urban regeneration projects.

The analysis is framed by a conceptual framework derived from the main international models of city–port relations, such as the Anyport model, the city–port interface framework and connection/disconnection/reconnection typologies. The results highlight thirteen major phases in the evolution of the city–port relationship, characterized by contrasting configurations of the urban-port interface. These configurations result in successive reconfigurations of the urban fabric, functional hierarchies and socio-spatial gradients. They demonstrate how the transition from an integrated port to an autonomous port, and then to a partially relocated mega port, generates economic growth, socio-spatial segregation and environmental vulnerabilities.

Nevertheless, thanks to the expansion project and the heritage designation of the medina, this dynamic opens up a window of opportunity for a renewal of the city–port relationship. This renewal can be based on quality of life, spatial justice and the promotion of Mediterranean urban heritage, while encouraging a rethinking of Annaba’s place within the Maghreb’s port networks. From a scientific perspective, the study offers an original contribution to the literature on Maghreb port cities by linking local dynamics with international models of city–port relations. Finally, it provides practical guidance for public bodies responsible for urban and port planning.

Key words:  Annaba; Mediterranean port; urban history; city-port interface.