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Métlaoui متلوي | |
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Commune and town | |
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  Métlaoui | |
| Coordinates:34°20′N8°25′E / 34.33°N 8.41°E /34.33; 8.41 | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Governorate | Gafsa Governorate |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 39,021 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
Métlaoui (Tunisian Arabic:متلويmitlawī) is a town and commune in theGafsa Governorate,Tunisia. In 2014 it had a population of 39,100.[1]
The history of Métlaoui dates back toPrehistoric times. To the west of the town, in the agricultural area of Sagdoud, traces of prehistoric activity can be found, particularly numerousmegaliths. Sites such as Bir El Hmara, Bir El Hmairia, and Gourbata also bear evidence of theCapsian culture.
Punic ruins are present in the form of forts built for security purposes on the mountain peaks. Within theSelja Gorges, there areRoman ruins, especially at El Mkhifia, as well as defensive walls. In fact, the Romanlimes passed fromChebika to the south of Métlaoui.
During the medieval period, the arrival of the Arabs saw the Hamama settle in what is now theSidi Bouzid plain, while the Ouled Bouyahia and Jeridia settled in the area of present-day Métlaoui.
When the French arrived in the region, they encountered a population engaged in agriculture and pastoralism. The town experienced significant growth during theFrench Protectorate, particularly after the 1885 discovery ofphosphate deposits a few kilometers away, at the foot ofDjebel Selja, byPhilippe Thomas. Industrial exploitation began in 1896 with the granting of a railway concession to the Compagnie des Phosphates et des Chemins de Fer de Gafsa, which built a 250-kilometer railway line between Métlaoui andSfax to transport the ore for export or local processing.
To this day, phosphate continues to be extracted from eight nearby mining centers, with Métlaoui serving as the main hub. Most of the facilities of theCompagnie des phosphates de Gafsa are located in Métlaoui,[2] including departments for production, maintenance, research, supply, and other units directly involved in mining operations.
Métlaoui is an important railway hub of southern Tunisia, as it lies near theSousse-Tozeur line. The branch toRedeyef (with interconnection toKasserine) splits nearby. This line is famous because is runs through scenicselja gorges.
Until the 2011Jasmine Revolution, Métlaoui was home to a Natural History Museum filled with fossil specimens discovered during mining operations. In 2019, the fossil remains were re-excavated from the ruins and sent to theUniversity of Gafsa for storage.[3]
34°20′N8°24′E / 34.333°N 8.400°E /34.333; 8.400
