[5] The format is similar to other Punic names along the North African coast, including Rusguniae, Rusubbicari, Rusuccuru, Rusippisir, Rusigan (Rachgoun), Rusicade, Ruspina, Ruspe, and Rsmlqr.

[citation needed] Like Abyla (present-day Ceuta), Rusadir was located on a small, easily defended peninsula connected to mainland Africa by a narrow isthmus.

[13] Rusadir's own small bight lies beside a kind of natural amphitheater on the eastern slope of a steep rock 500 meters (1,640 ft) high, where modern Melilla has grown up.

It minted its own bronze coins, with Punic text and a bearded head (possibly Baal Hammon) obverse and a bee between ears of wheat reverse.

Focusing his attention on the Roman province of Africa, Gaiseric allowed Berber rebellions to remove most of his western territories from his control.

The Byzantine general Belisarius restored Roman control over Northern Africa (including Rusadir) around the year 533,[15] as part of Justinian's Vandalic War.

The Exarchate of Africa established by the Byzantines also focused most of its attention on the area of present-day Tunisia and did not expand into the Mauretanian hinterland.