Who exactly were the Cannenefates?

[Nathan Ross]

I was wondering if there was any other information about this unit and the people that served in Algeria?

I can't help you on the ethnic group - but, as you know, auxiliary units did not often preserve their 'ethnic' composition for long.

The cavalry unit turns up on a number of inscriptions, with various spellings - ala I  Cannanefatium is most common. They first appear in Germania Superior under Vespasian, then appear to move to Gerulata in Pannonia Superior, where there are several tombstones. This was probably around the time of Trajan.

The temporary transfer to Mauretania was probably connected with the war of Antoninus Pius in that province (date unclear, probably some time c.145-152), which involved the transfer of several detachments from the Danube and elsewhere.

At a guess, the unit may have started using the contus while they were based in Pannonia.