Sfax Governorate in the context of Kerkennah Islands

Sfax (/s(ə)ˈfæks/ s(ə-)FAKS; Arabic: صفاقس, romanized: Ṣafāqis, Tunisian Arabic: [ˈsˤfaːqəs] ) is a major port city in Tunisia, located 270 km (170 mi) southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate (about 955,421 inhabitants in 2014), and a Mediterranean port. Sfax has a population of 341,999 (census 2022). Its main industries include phosphate, olive and nut processing, fishing (it is the largest fishing port in Tunisia) and international trade. The city is the second-most populous in the country after the capital, Tunis.

Mahdia Governorate (Tunisian Arabic: ولاية المهدية; French: Gouvernorat de Mahdia) is in central-eastern Tunisia, named after its largest town and administrative centre. It comprises an area of coastal relative lowland, but extends further inland than its coastal length. It is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces). It covers an area of 2,966 km², and has a population of 410,812 (as at the 2014 census). Four other governorates are its neighbours - clockwise from south, Sfax, Kairouan, Sousse and Monastir Governorates. The governorate of Mahdia was created by the decree of March 9, 1974 after having been part of the governorate of Sousse.