Why has political unity been rare in the Maghrib?

Political unity has been historically rare in the Maghrib primarily due to the region's challenging geography. The area of settlement is characterized by a vast length but very little breadth, lacking a natural center from which a central authority could effectively impose political uniformity.1

Furthermore, the region's natural communications have never been easy, and the presence of large, disconnected mountain blocks—such as the Atlas Mountains—has allowed various populations to remain independent of, and often hostile toward, those who controlled the plains.1

Historically, this fragmentation was reinforced by the inability of ruling dynasties to maintain durable authority. For instance, after the collapse of the Almohad rule, the region split into competing states, and rulers often struggled to extend administrative control beyond their capital cities and garrison towns. Tribal societies frequently operated with significant autonomy, and the preoccupation of dynasties with internecine conflicts further prevented the realization of long-term political consolidation.2