[Migration and urbanization in the Sahel: the case of Mali]

In Mali traditional migration (e.g. nomads) and modern migration (e.g. rural-urban migration) constitute serious obstacles to balanced development in so many receiving areas that departure areas are drained of their active population in general. These movements are still insufficiently understood as to their volumes causes and effects. Migrants make up about 25% of the population in Mali. One bears witness to a change in structure and direction of these movements. The structure of migrants is becoming increasingly older and female. Internal migration in Mali tends to go from northern areas to southern areas especially the regions of Segou and Sikasso and Bamako district. Increasing the value and management of human resources requires better knowledge of migration. Urbanization is a recent phenomenon in Mali whose causes depend on migrations which are linked to inherent difficulties in rural areas. Urbanization in Mali is characterized by the tendency of increased population size in the capital Bamako. During 1976-1987 urban population growth in Bamako was about 7% 3.7% of which was due to growth in migration and 3.3% due to natural growth. All the while little urban centers were also growing. Between 1960 and 1987 the number of urban centers of 5000-10000 population increased from 16 to 59. Rapid urbanization poses problems with water electricity housing solid waste employment and traffic in the slums. No study was allowed to circumvent these problems. It is necessary to begin studies which will take charge of the phenomenon of migration and the problems arising from unmeasured growth in cities in order to integrate them into future development plans especially while Mali still has relatively low urbanization (22%). Migration and urbanization are intimately connected. They constitute two elements of the one and same reality: misery in rural areas which pushes its inhabitants to emigrate to cities. Desalination and many years of drought have contributed greatly to rural-urban migration.