Jendouba Governorate (, ; ), known before 1966 as Souk El Arba Governorate, is one of the 24 governorates of Tunisia. It is predominantly in the high hills of the Tell Atlas in north-western Tunisia, bordering Algeria and the Mediterranean Sea. It covers an area of and has a population of 401,477 (2014 census). Census 2014 (National Institute of Statistics) The capital is Jendouba. The economy of the Jendouba governorate is primarily based on cereal farming, livestock, market gardening, and tree cultivation. The agricultural land area covers 286,200 hectares, representing 92% of the governorate's total area and nearly 3.4% of the country's agricultural area. Forests cover 118,470 hectares.

Geography The governorate of Jendouba is located in the northwest of Tunisia, from the capital. It is bordered by the governorates of Kef and Siliana in the south, the governorate of Béja in the east, and it is away from the border with Algeria in the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, with a long coastline.

The northern portion of the governorate is dominated by the Kroumirie Mountains, a mountainous region covered with extensive cork oak forests and one of the best-watered areas in North Africa, receiving between 1,000 and 1,500 mm of rainfall annually. The Kroumirie region extends south of the Mediterranean Sea and north of the Wadi Majardah (Medjerda), stretching east from the Algerian border to Mount Al-Abyad. The Medjerda River (Wadi Majardah), Tunisia's only perennially flowing river, rises in northeastern Algeria and flows northeastward toward the Gulf of Tunis, with Jendouba among its principal riverine settlements.

Administrative divisions The governorate is divided into nine delegations (mutamadiyat), listed below with their populations at the 2004 and 2014 Censuses:Institut National de la Statistique Tunisie (web).

Delegation Area in km2 Population (2004 Census) Population (2014 Census) Aïn Draham 489 40,372 35,400 Balta-Bou Aouane 297 42,229 38,764 Bou Salem 286 36,061 35,501 Fernana 391 52,690 47,690 Ghardimaou 507 67,955 64,170 Jendouba Sud 255 68,597 72,337 Jendouba Nord 298 44,195 40,779 Oued Meliz 200 19,015 17,843 Tabarka 374 45,494 48,993

Climate Jendouba is known for having the rainiest climate in the country, with annual precipitation reaching on the coast and exceeding in Aïn Draham. The average temperature is between in winter and between in summer.Dispositif régional d'aide à la création d'entreprises pour le gouvernorat de Jendouba Portail de l'Industrie Tunisienne

Economy The economy is mainly based on agriculture and livestock farming. The area of arable land is , accounting for 92% of the total area of the governorate and nearly 3.4% of the country's arable land, as of 2009. The governorate of Jendouba contributes a significant share in the national production of strategic food products with 12 to 13.4% of cereal production, 26% of vegetables, 12 to 13.4% of milk and 16% of potatoes and 6 to 9% red meat, as of 2009. At the same year, it produced 35 to 51% of national wood production, 94% of cork and 29% of tobacco. However, in subsequent years some crops had a significant production decrease, such as the tobacco production that decreased to one-third in 2019 from 2011.

Infrastructure The governorate has a railway line connecting the capital to Algeria through the towns of Bousalem, Jendouba and Ghardimaou to Tunis, over . The governorate's airport is Tabarka–Aïn Draham International Airport.

Tourism The region has a golf course and a marina. It offers cultural tourism focused on a diverse archaeological heritage, such as Bulla Regia and Chemtou, and annual festivals such as the Tabarka Jazz Festival. Other attraction destinations include El Feidja National Park.

Education The governorate of Jendouba has 31 middle schools and 18 high schools. There is a tourism school in Aïn Draham and a health care school in Jendouba. The University of Jendouba consists of a faculty, seven institutes, and five affiliated institutions.

Politics A list of Governors of Jendouba since the independence: Naceur Ben Jaafar (1956–1960) Béchir Bellagha (1960–1962) Habib Ben Mohamed Lahbib (1962–1964) Mongi Kooli (1964–1967) Abdelaziz Beltaïef (1967–1969) Mohamed Souyah (1969–1970) Mokhtar Zannad (1970–1971) Hassen Louzir (1971–1973) Abdelmalek Laârif (1973–1975) Saïd Robbana (1975–1978) Khelil Trad (1978–1981) Abderrazak Kéfi (1981–1982) Abderrazak Ayoub (1982–1984) Hamed Khanfir (1984–1987) Mohamed Fadhel Khelil (1987–1988) Mohamed Belhaj (1988–1990) Slaheddine El Abed (1990–1993) Mohamed Belghith (1993–1995) Abdallah Hadroug (1995–1996) Habib Ben Gamra (1996–2000) Ali Ksiksi (2000–2004) Mahmoud Bellalouna (2004–2005) Hédi Slim (2005–2010) Mohamed Faouzi Ben Arab (28 July 2010 – 30 December 2010) Mohamed Ben Abdallah (30 December 2010 – 2 February 2011) Béchir Kthiri (2 February 2011 – 22 February 2012) Mohamed Sidhom (22 February – 27 October 2012) Samir Rouihem (27 October 2012 – 24 October 2013) Néjib Khabbouchi (24 October 2013 – 9 April 2015) Habib Skandrani (9 April 2015 – 16 September 2016) Akrem Sebri (16 September 2016 – 29 October 2017) Mohamed Sedki Bouaoun (29 October 2017« Mouvement dans le corps des gouverneurs : départ de Omar Mansour », Business News, 29 October 2017. – 13 February 2019) Ali Marmouri (13 February 2019«Nouveaux gouverneurs à Sidi Bouzid, Zaghouan, Tozeur et Jendouba », Shems FM, 13 February 2019 . – 17 March 2022« Kaïs Saïed limoge Ali Marmouri, gouverneur de Jendouba », Business News, 17 March 2022.) Samir Kouka (6 June 2022 –)

Notable people Boubaker Ayadi, author, professor and journalist. Salah Mejri, basketball player.

References

External links Ain Kroumir - Regional Website of Northwest Tunisia