In the 16th century the northern fringe of the Sahara, such as coastal regencies in present-day Algeria and Tunisia, as well as some parts of present-day Libya, together with the semi-autonomous kingdom of Egypt, were occupied by the Ottoman Empire.
A partir do século XVI, as zonas costeiras do bordo do Sáhara que se corresponden cos actuais países de Alxeria, Tunisia e Libia, así como o daquela semi-autónomo reino de Exipto, foron ocupados polo Imperio Otomán.