General presentation
Guelma was the cradle of many successive civilizations in the region, since ancient times. Man has settled there since the dawn of history, as evidenced by the many different monuments, inscriptions and funerary monuments discovered. Where it was an important commercial center for the Phoenicians, and one of the most important cities in the heart of Eastern Numidia, then it became a prosperous Roman and Byzantine city. It was called in the Phoenician era “Malaca”, then its name became “Calama” in the era of the Romans, and its name has changed over time to Guelma.
The State of Guelma was distinguished by its great role in the glorious liberation revolution, especially in the delivery of weapons from the eastern base, and the crossing of the elements of the National Liberation Army, where it was the scene of immortal heroic battles. Before that, it was known about the heinous massacres committed by the colonizer against the residents of the Wilayat of Guelma, during the uprising of May 8, 1945, when Guelma alone counted more than 18 thousand martyrs. Guelma also gave birth to distinguished men such as Souidani Boudjemaa, a member of the historical group 22 and the president of the state, Houari Boumediene.