This series makes part of the “Section d’Etat” archival fonds of the Prime Ministry. It concerns regional and local administrative district boundaries, population control, the country’s frontiers, migrations etc…

The arrangement of these records is essentially carried out according to a geographical criterion. Records were gathered with reference to the ‘Contrôles Civils’ (Civil Control), administrative sub-divisions involving one or several Caïdats (a district ruled by a Caïd or governor). Civil controllers were French civil servants charged with the control of the regional and local administration services subject to the supervision of the French « Resident general » whereas the Tunisian staff responsible for the administration of the local and regional administration belonged to the Prime Ministry.

This series comprises as well files classified themattically such as the boundaries marking tribal lands and groups, Tunisia’s borders with Algeria and Libya, foreigners…

Records relating to the regional and local administration consist of administrative files devoted to the active staff at this level, namely caïds, khalifa, kahia, cheikh… in addition to files relating to the management of administrative districts. Some of these are classified according to repetitive themes whereas others rely on varied ones.

This series represents a valuable source of information as far as the regional and local administration is concerned.This importance extends as well to the relations established between this administration and the population including the immigrants living in Tunisia, namely the “Tripolitains” and the Algerians. It also covers the population distribution, tribal boundaries, common lands and internal population movement.

Series “A” comprises also a considerable number of files relating to persons who actively took part in the 1915 Revolt in the South of Tunisia against the French occupier (namely the Tribe of Ouerghemma). These files concern, moreover, persons who, suspected by the French colonial administration, were subjected to internment or exile.

This series represents the principal source available to study and investigate questions relating to the operating regional and local administration during the Protectorate era (1881-1956).

Staff administrative files of the above-mentioned administration are, indeed, an extremely, rich and valuable source.