Rome's first province in northern Africa was established by the Roman Republic in 146 BC, following its elimination of Carthage by Scipio Aemilianus in the Third Punic War. "Africa Proconsularis" or "Africa Vetus" (Old Africa), was governed by a proconsul. It is possible that the name "Africa" comes from the Berber word "afer", "ifri" or "Aourigha" (whose name would have been pronounced Afarika) that designated a tribe.