The province of Africa proconsularis is established by the Roman Republic in 146 BCE, following the Third Punic War.

The province roughly comprises the territory of present-day northern Tunisia, the northeast of modern-day Algeria, and the small Mediterranean Sea coast of modern-day western Libya along the Syrtis Minor.It is the richest province in the western part of the empire.

The Arabs will later name roughly the same region as the original province Ifriqiya, a rendering of Africa, from the Latin language.Rome establishes its first African colony, Africa Proconsularis or Africa Vetus (Old Africa), governed by a proconsul, in the most fertile part of what was formerly Carthaginian territory.

Utica is formed as the administrative capital.

The remaining territory is left in the domain of the Numidian client king Massinissa.

At this time, the Roman policy in Africa is simply to prevent another great power from rising on the far side of Sicily.In 118 BCE, the Numidian prince Jugurtha attempts to reunify the smaller kingdoms.

However, upon his death, much of Jugurtha's territory is placed in the control of the Mauretanian client king Bocchus; and, by this time, the romanization of Africa is firmly rooted.

In 27 BCE, when the Republic transforms into an Empire, the province of Africa begins itsoccupation under Imperial Roman rule.Other large cities in the region include Hadrumetum (modern Sousse, Tunisia), capital of Byzacena, Hippo Regius (modern Annaba, Algeria).Several political and provincial reforms are implemented by Augustus and later by Caligula, but Claudius finalizes the territorial divisions into official Roman provinces.

Africa is a senatorial province.

After Diocletian's administrative reforms, it is split into Africa Zeugitana (which retains the name Africa Proconsularis, as it is governed by a proconsul) in the north and Africa Byzacena in the south, both of which are part of the Dioecesis Africae.The region remains a part of the Roman Empire until the Germanic migrations of the fifth century.

The Vandals cross into North Africa from Spain in 429 and overrun the area by 439 and found their own kingdom, including Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics.

The Vandals control the country as a warrior-elite, enforcing a policy of strict separation and suppressing the local Romano-African population.