Sahel, Tunisia

Its geographic area is quite large: about 140 km from north to south and varying between twenty and sixty kilometres east to west.

It was recaptured by the Eastern Roman Empire in the Vandalic War and then formed one of the seven provinces of the Exarchate of Africa, which stretched west to the Atlantic.

With the arrival of Islam and the establishment of the capital of Ifriqiya, Kairouan, in the region, the Sahel's maritime ports became the key to its security.

The city of Sousse received a shipyard which played an important role in the conquest of Sicily, which was launched from it.

Kairouan lost some of its religious role to Monastir, where figures including the Zirid princes and Imam Mezri were buried.

However, the invasion of Banu Hilal plunged the region into chaos and Tunisia fractured into numerous taifas; only the Sahel remained under Zirid control.

A little later the region suffered from Norman attacks – Mahdia was taken in 1148 by troops of Roger II of Sicily[5] – until the arrival of the Almohads in 1160.

After this, the general Ahmed Zarrouk imposed a heavy tribute (financed by the sail of goods and property) and confiscated large areas of olive plantation.

After independence, the government of Neo Destour ended the Sahel's administrative union during the abolition of the qaidates and establishment of the modern system of governorates.

The Sahel occupies a central position on the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the country's most important areas for bathing and tourism on account of the large number of beaches.

The Sahel Metro is the regional railway line, making several trips daily between Mahdia and Sousse.

The region is home to several handball clubs, of which the most important are the Étoile Sportive du Sahel H.C., El Makarem de Mahdia and SC Moknine.