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Background: The United Nations Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to succeed the Millennium Development Goals in September 2015. From a European perspective, the development of health in the countries of North Africa are of special interest as a critical factor of overall social development in Europe’s Mediterranean partners. In this paper, we address the mortality related SDG-3 targets, the likelihood to achieve them until 2030 and analyze how they are defined. Methods: We projected mortality trends from 2000–2015 to 2030, based on mortality estimates by inter-agency groups and the WHO in mother and child health, non-communicable diseases, and road traffic mortality. The gap analysis compares the time remaining until 2030 to the time needed to complete the target assuming a linear trend of the respective indicator. A delay of not more than 3.75 years is considered likely to achieve the target. Results: The SDG-3 targets of a Maternal Mortality Ratio below 70 per 100 000 live births and an U5MR below 25 per 1 000 live births have been achieved by Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. Libya and Tunisia have also achieved the target for Newborn Mortality with Egypt close to achieving it as well. Algeria and Morocco are generally on track for most of the indicators, including deaths from non-communicable diseases and suicide rates; however, all of the countries are lagging when it comes to deadly Road Traffic Injuries for 2030. Mauritania is the only North African country which is not likely to reach the 2030 targets for any of the mortality indicators. Conclusions: Although mortality statistics may be incomplete there is an impressive gradient from East to West showing Mauritania and deadly road traffic injuries as the most problematic areas. Given the large differences between countries baselines, we consider it preferable to set realistic targets to be achieved until 2030.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Mauritania is a country in which few ethnobotanical studies have been conducted and consequently the ethnomedical data is scarce. Since the geographical region reflects the transition between tropical and Northern Africa, influenced by the Mediterranean floristic region, the traditional knowledge was influenced by several cultures from tropical Africa as well as Arab, Berber and Islamic societies. Aim of the study This paper aims to explore and compile the diversity of ethnomedical knowledge in one of the regions of Mauritania and to compare the data with similar studies from surrounding territories. Materials and methods Surveys and interviews were carried out in 11 villages of Adrar province in northern Mauritania. Data were collected through open, semi-structured interviews (with individuals and focus groups). A sample of 120 people aged between 20 and 70 years, including 24 herbalists and 28 traditional healers was included. Results Ethnomedical data for 68 plant species belonging to 27 families were obtained. They are used to treat 50 health conditions grouped in 14 pathological groups. Remedies for digestive system disorders, skin problems and respiratory ailments were among the most frequent indications. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part and remedies generally used as a powder for the various applications and a total of 2’317 use reports were gathered. About 55% of the reported species were not cited previously in the literature focusing on Mauritania and neighbouring countries. Moreover, only 6 species are also cited by Ibn al-Baytar (13th century CE). Conclusions This work shows a promising perspective for future studies, shedding light on the richness and the risk for conservation of traditional knowledge of herbal medicine in Mauritania.

International audience; Background: Mauritania is one of the African countries with ongoing malaria transmission where data on insecticide resistance of local malaria vectors are limited despite an increasing use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) as the main intervention for vector control. This study presents an evaluation of the level of insecticide resistance of Anopheles arabiensis in Nouakchott. Methods: Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) larvae were collected in breeding sites during the rainy season (August-September) in 2015 and 2016 from two selected sites in Nouakchott and reared until emergence. Adult anopheline mosquitoes were tested against malathion (5%), bendiocarb (0.1%), permethrin (0.75%) and deltamethrin (0.05%) using standard World Health Organization (WHO) insecticide-impregnated papers. PCR assays were used for the identification of An. gambiae (s.l.) sibling species as well as knockdown resistance (kdr). Results: The mean knockdown times 50% (KDT50) and 95% (KDT95) were 66 +/- 17 and 244 +/- 13 min, respectively, for permethrin in 2015. The KDT50 and the KDT95 were 39 +/- 13 and 119 +/- 13 min, respectively, for deltamethrin. The KDT50 and the KDT95 doubled for both molecules in 2016. The mortality rates 24 h post-exposure revealed that An. arabiensis populations in Nouakchott were fully susceptible to bendiocarb and malathion in 2015 as well as in 2016, while they were resistant to permethrin (51.9% mortality in 2015 and 24.1% mortality in 2016) and to deltamethrin (83.7% mortality in 2015 and 39.1% mortality in 2016). The molecular identification showed that Anopheles arabiensis was the only malaria vector species collected in Nouakchott in 2015 and 2016. Both the West and East African kdr mutant alleles were found in An. arabiensis mosquitoes surviving exposure to pyrethroid insecticide, with a high rate of homozygous resistant genotypes (54.3% for the West African kdr mutation and 21.4% for the East African kdr mutation) and a significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg proportions (chi(2) 134, df = 3, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The study showed high levels of pyrethroid resistance in An. arabiensis populations in Nouakchott and presence of both West and East African kdr alleles in the resistant phenotype. These results highlight a need for routine monitoring of susceptibility of malaria vector populations to insecticides used in public health programs.

The rapid growth in China’s domestic investment in recent decades has generated a large appetite for global goods, including from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper estimates the impact of changes in China’s investment growth on SSA’s exports. Although rising trading links with China have allowed African countries to diversify their export base across countries away from advanced economies, they have also led SSA countries to become more susceptible to spillovers from China. Based on panel data analysis, a one percentage point increase (decline) in China’s domestic investment growth is associated with an average 0.6 percentage point increase (decline) in SSA countries’ export growth. This impact is larger for resource-rich countries, especially oil exporters. These effects could be mitigated, however, to the extent that countries can reorient their exports.

International audience; Although mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are important disease vectors, information on their biodiversity in Mauritania is scarce and very dispersed in the literature. Data from the scientific literature gathered in the country from 1948 to 2016 were collected and analyzed. Overall 51 culicid species comprising 17 Anopheles spp., 14 Aedes spp., 18 Culex spp. and two Mansonia spp. have been described in Mauritania among which Anopheles arabiensis, Aedes vexans, Culex poicilipes and Culex antennatus are of epidemiological significance. Anopheles arabiensis is widely distributed throughout the country and its geographic distribution has increased northwards in recent years, shifting its northern limit form 17 degrees 32'N in the 1960s to 18 degrees 47'N today. Its presence in the central region of Tagant highlights the great ecological plasticity of the species. Conversely, the distribution of Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) and Anopheles melas has shrunk compared to that of the 1960s. Anopheles rhodesiensis and An. d'thali are mainly confined in the mountainous areas (alt. 200-700 m), whereas Anopheles pharoensis is widely distributed in the Senegal River basin. Culex poicilipes and Cx. antenattus were naturally found infected with Rift valley fever virus in central and northern Mauritania following the Rift valley outbreaks of 1998 and 2012. Recently, Ae. aegypti emerged in Nouakchott and is probably responsible for dengue fever episodes of 2015. This paper provides a concise and up-to-date overview of the existing literature on mosquito species known to occur in Mauritania and highlights areas where future studies should fill a gap in knowledge about vector biodiversity. It aims to help ongoing and future research on mosquitoes particularly in the field of medical entomology to inform evidence-based decision-making for vector control and management strategies.

The reciprocal effects between sediment texture and seagrass density are assumed to play an important role in the dynamics and stability of intertidal-coastal ecosystems. However, this feedback relationship has been difficult to study empirically on an ecosystem scale, so that knowledge is mainly based on theoretical models and small-scale (experimental) studies. In this paper we apply a non-recursive structural equation model (SEM) to empirically investigate, at large spatial scale, the mutual dependence between seagrass (Zostera noltii) density and sediment texture, on the pristine, seagrass-dominated, intertidal mudflats of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. The non-recursive SEM allows consistent estimation and testing of a direct feedback between sediment and seagrass whilst statistically controlling for the effects of nutrients and abiotic stress. The resulting model is consistent with the hypothesized negative feedback: grain size decreases with seagrass density, whereas fine grain size has a negative impact on seagrass density because it decreases pore water exchange which leads to hypoxic sediment conditions. Another finding is that seagrass density increases with sediment organic material content up to a threshold level beyond which it levels off. In combination with decreasing grain size, accumulation of organic matter creates hypoxic sediment conditions which lead to the production of toxic hydrogen sulfide which slows down seagrass growth. The negative feedback loop implies that intertidal Z. noltii modifies its own environment, thus controlling its growing conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate a direct negative feedback relationship in ecosystems by means of a non-recursive SEM.

Este trabajo presenta los contrastes entre renovación y tradición en el Islam africano contemporáneo a través de la biografía de Muhammad al-Mishry, uno de los máximos exponentes de la ṭarīqa sufí Tijāniyya. Esta organización vivió los procesos de independencia y modernización de muchos países considerados tradicionales, y por su actitud abierta fue duramente criticada por el salafi smo (literalistas) y los islamistas (reformismo). Mishry constituyó para miles de personas un modelo conciliador entre el mundo contemporáneo y el tradicional, a través de la práctica del sufi smo. Así, solventó los problemas derivados del choque cultural con el mundo colonial y el post-colonial. This paper outlines the contrast between Revival and Tradition in contemporary African Islam through the intellectual biography of Muhammad al-Mishry, one of the leaders of the Tijāniyya Sufi Path. Th is organization witnessed the process of independency and modernization of many traditional african countries. Because of its open attitude to renewal, salafism (literalism) and islamism (reformism) criticized the Tijāniyya. For thousands Mishry represented a role model for the conciliation of modernity and tradition. We found very interesting in this research the way in which he solved the problems of the colonial and post-colonial cultural clashes using sufism. Ministerio de Educación, Gobierno de España Programa FPU

The objective of this paper is to evaluate why small-scale farmers do not persist with irrigation along the Senegal River Valley of Mauritania. Surveys of all households of 12 villages that combine traditional agriculture with irrigated rice production collected information on workload, inputs and productivity of cropping systems together with food requirement and costs in local markets. Analyses revealed that, at the scale of farming attempted, there is no shortage of labor within most households when irrigated rice is combined with traditional rain fall cropping in the wet season and flood-recession crops in the cold, dry season. There is, however, a major limitation to successful combination in the generally negative return of rice production to labor and inputs. While input costs for traditional systems are very small, real costs of rice production (4000. kg paddy/ha) exceed returns in most cases. Farmers only persist with irrigation for as long as the infrastructure functions with minimum maintenance. This explains the observed gradual abandonment of many irrigation schemes unless additional investment is available to repay initial loans and renew infrastructure. While operational, the schemes do add significantly to food security in the villages and offer paid labor to landless residents. Greater yields of rice, greater irrigation water-use efficiency through improved irrigation management, crops that demand less water and more intensive use of irrigated land are options to increase return to inputs. Success here would remove the food contribution from traditional agriculture currently required to sustain irrigated rice production, and establish a continuing and profitable contribution from irrigated agriculture. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd., The work reported here was financed by the Agencia Española Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and the Ministère du Développement Rural in Mauritania (MDR), Agencia Española Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), Ministère du Développement Rural in Mauritania (MDR)

To date, most analyses of the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) network have focused on qualitative analysis to determine trends and patterns in the group's evolution over time. Seldom has a combination of quantitative tools been used to derive inferences about the nature of the organization and its changing strategy. In this paper, the author draws on a combination of geospatial analysis and social network analysis in order to explore how the network has changed over time in response to efforts from local and international security forces to disrupt it. The analysis enables the community of interest to draw conclusions with regard to the resiliency of the network and its long-term goals in the Sahel region. Evidence indicates that AQIM is evolving into a less dense but more ethnically diverse organization that is rapidly restoring the operational capacity it lost during the 2013 French intervention in Mali. Despite major Western military efforts to suppress it, AQIM is increasingly able to conduct spectacular attacks across west Africa, further destabilizing an already precarious security environment. The thesis concludes with recommendations for crafting a strategy tailored to degrading and containing the threat from AQIM and its affiliates. http://archive.org/details/whyfailingterror1094556840 Major, United States Army Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Over the centuries, slavery has become embedded into the social fabric of Mauritania with generations of abid and bizan (Mauritanian slaves and slave masters, respectively) born and raised knowing nothing but the institution of chattel slavery. Abid fleeing their station in Mauritania come to the USA with unique psychological needs that will affect all of their interactions with the medical community. This paper aims to assist health professionals and others concerned with the welfare of former chattel slaves in competently serving this vulnerable population. Discussion includes an overview of Mauritanian chattel slavery, deduced sequelae of chattel slavery, preliminary recommendations for mental health and medical treatment protocols, and suggestions for future research. A confidential Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved case report will be used to illustrate these objectives.

As part of the preparatory work for the elaboration of a strategic plan for the development of scientific research in Mauritania, an overview of national biomedical research was recommended by the supervisory authorities.Describe the bibliometric profile of biomedical scientific publications in Mauritania, indexed in Medline database, over the past 25 years.A bibliometric study was carried out on Medline Database covering the period from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 2016. Were retained, the scientific papers whose one of the author's address, at least, was a Mauritanian one. The fields of the Medline display format were used to describe the following items: authors, addresses, journal, language, article type, and Mesh terms. The assignment of a publication to an author was limited to the first and last position. Only first institutional affiliation mentioned in the authors' addresses was considered to classify the establishments' productivity. International co-operation has been studied through the compilation of all co-author addresses.Between 1992 and 2016, Medline had indexed 141 Mauritanian articles, 74 of them was published during the previous five-year period (2012-2016). These papers covered essentially the following disciplines: "Infectious diseases", "Community health", "Parasitology", "Veterinary Medicine" and "Marine Sciences" It mainly consist of an original article (79%), written in English (57%) and published without financial support (72%). Mauritanian articles have been published in 72 journals in 12 different countries. Three journals « Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique », « Pan African Medical Journal » and « Malaria journal » have accounted 23 % of the publications ; 36% of the papers have been published in French journals. The research subjects of the Mauritanian biomedical literature was carried out via 215 major keywords, five of them represented 22% of the publications: «Malaria», «HIV infections», «Anopheles», «Camels», and «Goat diseases »". For 112 scientific articles (79%), the first author were Mauritanian, as for the rest (n = 29) the authors were coming from 15 different countries, mainly from France, Senegal and the Arab Maghreb. In 48% of the articles, the affiliation of the first author was one of four following structures: « the National Hospital Centre in Nouakchott», «The National Center for Livestock and Veterinary Research», « the Faculty of Science and Technology » and «the National Institute for Research in Public Health». A partnership with an international team was noted for 40% of publications, particularly with France, Italy, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Tunisia.During the last past 25 year, the biomedical publication feature, inconsistently growing since 2012, has been characterizing by the adequacy of research themes with the population's health needs, an international visibility and an extensive networking with many foreign research structures. Strengthening Maghrebian collaboration in the fields of research training and Multi-centric research would be a fine support to the national dynamics of biomedical research.

The echinoderm fauna of North-eastern Atlantic is one of the best known worldwide. However, despite a great number of published works on Atlantic echinoderms, this group remains poorly know in Northwest African waters, where the available information basically comes from the old oceanographic expeditions carried out from the late 19th- to mid-20th centuries (Challenger, Prince Albert I of Monaco, Travailleur et Talisman, Michael Sars, Valdivia, Atlantide ). During the four multidisciplinary Maurit surveys, carried out annually from 2007 to 2010 onboard R/V Vizconde de Eza in Mauritanian EEZ, between Cape Blanc (21° N) and the Senegalese border (16° N), a total of 342 trawling stations were sampled between 79 and 1867 m depth. Most of stations were located in soft bottoms and were accomplished with a commercial trawl and a beam-trawl. Only 26 stations were deployed in hard bottoms, namely canyons borders, the giant cold-water coral reef and a seamount, using a rock dredge. This paper deals with the echinoderms obtained in these surveys and compares soft-bottoms and hard bottom assemblages. Echinoderms were collected in 271 stations (79.2%) of which 252 (93.0%) were located in soft bottoms and only 19 (7.0%) in hard substrata. Global diversity reaches 100 species identified in both soft and hard substrata, including 29 Holothuroidea, 28 Asteroidea, 27 Ophiuroidea, 13 Echinoidea and 3 Crinoidea. Eighty-two species were collected on soft bottoms, 25 were collected on hard substrata, but only six were reported in both. Ophiuroidea and Asteroidea were the most diverse echinoderms found on soft bottoms, versus Holothuroidea and Ophiuroidea in hard bottoms. Nevertheless, numerically the soft bottoms assemblages were clearly dominated by deposit-feeder Holothuroidea, while the dominance in hard bottoms is mostly suspension-feeder Holothuroidea (Dendrochirotida) and Ophiuroidea.

This paper investigates the channels through which remittances affect macroeconomic volatility in African countries using a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model augmented with financial frictions. Empirical results indicate that remittances—as a share of GDP—have a significant smoothing impact on output volatility but their impact on consumption volatility is somewhat small. Furthermore, remittances are found to absorb a substantial amount of GDP shocks in these countries. An investigation of the theoretical channels shows that the stabilization impact of remittances essentially hinges on two channels: (i) the size of the negative wealth effect on labor supply induced by remittances and, (ii) the strength of financial frictions and the ability of remittances to alleviate these frictions.

Nowadays, food security continues to be a huge problem, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper tries to analyse the problem of food security from the point of view of food regime analysis. The implementation of the different food regimes in Mauritania has had important consequences for the country’s food security because it has generated an increasing dualism between consumption patterns and provisioning systems in rural and urban areas. The Mauritanian case allows us to note that the European model to achieve the food security existing in the Second Food Regime did not apply in countries such as Mauritania. Moreover, Mauritania shows us that the proposal for food security in the Third Food Regime, that is, the access to the food world markets, has not been able to mitigate the food insecurity of the country.

This paper reviews the evidence on how households in Sub-Saharan Africa segment along consumption, income and earning dimensions relevant for quantitative macroeconomic policy models which incorporate heterogeneity. Key findings include the importance of home-grown food in the income and consumption of house-holds well up the income distribution, the lack of formal financial inclusion for all but the richest households, and the importance of non-wage income. These stylized facts suggest that an externally-generated macroeconomic shock and the short-term policy response would mainly affect the behavior and welfare of these richer urban households, who are also more likely to have the means to cope. Middle class and poor households, especially in rural areas, should be insulated from these external shocks but vulnerable to a wide range of structural factors in the economy as well as idiosyncratic shocks.

This paper reviews trends in taxation and revenue in MENA countries over 1990-2012, with a focus on non-resource taxes. On average, non-resource revenues declined slightly, while resource revenues soared. Country experiences vary: rates of main taxes and their revenues tend to be higher in the Magreb than in the Mashreq, except for the value-added tax, where lower rates are associated with equal or higher revenue; most oil producers raise little tax revenues—generally less than 5 percent of GDP—and most have reduced them since the late 1990s. But there are similarities: unlike common experience around the world, income taxes (not indirect taxes) have partially compensated for lost revenue from trade liberalization; revenues from indirect taxes have remained stable; personal income taxes have played an unimportant role as a revenue tool; and fees and stamp duties are significant revenue sources. Looking forward, tax reform challenges will also vary across countries: the Maghreb needs to focus on efficiency-enhancing reforms, especially in capital income and consumption taxes; the Mashreq have some room to increase revenue; and, there are ample opportunities to improve equity and reduce complexity of tax systems in all countries. Finally, the recent decline in oil prices and revenues is a reminder that even resource-rich GCC countries need to lay the basis of a tax system for the future.

Suspension-feeding bivalves often may occur in large concentrations ('beds') on tidal flats. This makes them attractive for human consumers and the archaeological record shows collection of bivalves by coastal populations already tens of thousands of years ago. In modem time human interference with coastal stocks of bivalves intensified. This paper describes the successive steps in this development: 1. Local exploitation and local consumption, leading to reduction of average age, average size and small shifts in species composition. 2. Local exploitation coupled to remote markets. This leads to the same changes as at 1, but also may lead to extirpation of local populations. 3. Relaying of imported bivalves to restock overexploited beds. This may result in destruction of genetic adaptations, and it has been demonstrated that it results in the importation of parasites and diseases. 4. Cultivation of bivalves with either spat from natural sources or from hatcheries. Bivalve culture usually results in increased harvests compared to open fisheries; it may lead to overstocking with effects on the remainder of the ecosystem. 5. Introduction of new, exotic species, either to be cultivated or as an unplanned introduction of 'weed' species.

Islamic finance is a fast growing activity in world markets. This paper provides a survey on Islamic Finance in SSA. Ongoing activities include Islamic banking, sukuk issuances (to finance infrastructure projects), Takaful (insurance), and microfinance. While not yet significant in most Sub-Saharan countries, several features make Islamic finance instruments relevant to the region, in particular the ability to foster SMEs and micro-credit activtities. As a first step, policy makers could introduce Islamic financing windows within the conventional system and facilitate sukuk issuance to tap foreign investors. The entrance of full-fleged Islamic banks require addressing systemic issues, and adapting the crisis management and resolution frameworks. The IMF can play a role by sharing international experiences and providing advice on supervisory and regulatory frameworks as needed.

This paper is the result of the study of a squat lobsters collection obtained along the Mauritanian coast, between 91 and 1867 m depth, during the ‘MAURIT’ surveys carried out in the period from 2007 to 2010. Eumunida bella de Saint Laurent & Macpherson, 1990 (Chirostyloidea) and six species of Munida and Munidopsis (Galatheoidea) are reported in the present work. A new species, Munidopsis anaramosae n. sp. collected off northwestern Banc d’Arguin at 1000–1012 m depth, is described and illustrated. The presence of an eyespine that arises distally from the middle end of the cornea, walking legs merus spinose on dorsal and ventral margins and cheliped merus ventrally unarmed distinguish it from related species. Munida chunii Balss, 1913 is redescribed here and the new records of Munida guineae Miyake & Baba, 1970, M. speciosa von Martens, 1878 and Munidopsis chunii Balss, 1913 extend their geographical distribution northwards, and in the case of the last species, increase its bathymetric range. MAVA (contract 12/87 AO C4/2012) Postprint

This paper is the result of the study of a squat lobsters collection obtained along the Mauritanian coast, between 91 and 1867 m depth, during the 'MAURIT' surveys carried out in the period from 2007 to 2010. Eumunida bella de Saint LaurentMacpherson, 1990 (Chirostyloidea) and six species of Munida and Munidopsis (Galatheoidea) are reported in the present work.A new species, Munidopsis anaramosae n. sp. collected off northwestern Banc d'Arguin at 1000-1012 m depth, is described and illustrated. The presence of an eyespine that arises distally from the middle end of the cornea, walking legs merus spinose on dorsal and ventral margins and cheliped merus ventrally unarmed distinguish it from related species. Munida chunii Balss, 1913 is redescribed here and the new records of Munida guineae MiyakeBaba, 1970, M. speciosa von Martens, 1878 and Munidopsis chunii Balss, 1913 extend their geographical distribution northwards, and in the case of the last species, increase its bathymetric range.

This paper assesses the extent to which Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)’s business cycle is synchronized with that of the rest of the world (RoW). Findings suggest that SSA’s business cycle has not only moved in the same direction as that of the RoW, but has also gradually drifted away from the G7 in favour of the BRICs. Trade with the BRICs turns out to be the strongest driver of this shift. Much of this impact unfolds through aggregate demand impulse from trade. As fiscal policy stances in SSA and the BRICs are not synchronized, they have not caused cyclical output correlation between these two groups of countries. Also, financial openness, which is at a very early stage across most SSA countries, has acted as a neutral force.

S’appuyant sur des recherches menées à Nouakchott, la capitale de la Mauritanie, ce papier interroge les politiques urbaines de résorption de l’habitat précaire. Il montre comment les pouvoirs publics, suivant les Objectifs du Millenium pour le Développement et accompagnés par les institutions internationales (en particulier la Banque mondiale), se sont engagées à éradiquer les bidonvilles. A travers l’analyse d’une opération de recasement, nous démontrerons que ces programmes entrainent bien souvent l’éviction et le déplacement de nombreux individus dans des zones lointaines, moyennant des distributions de titres fonciers. Ainsi, nous verrons combien les préceptes de la bonne gouvernance, prônés par les institutions internationales et repris par les gouvernements des pays du Sud, se révèlent de redoutables instruments pour éloigner les populations indésirables des espaces centraux stratégiques. Cet exemple mauritanien montre finalement une absence de mobilisation réelle contre ce qui a été perçu comme un déplacement injuste. La résistance est limitée, révélant l’impossibilité à contourner et dépasser l’échelon local. Cela illustre la « ville post-politique » (Swyngedouw, 2009), qui résulte d’une gouvernance urbaine complexe. Drawing on empirical fieldwork carried out in Nouakchott, capital city of Mauritania, this paper focuses on the effects of slum upgrading programs. It shows how public authorities, in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, and supported by the International institutions (such as the World Bank), implement slum clearance programs. Analyzing a resettlement project, we will demonstrate that these programs very often lead to evictions and forced resettlements of slum dwellers in faraway urban fringes, with property land titling in return. Shedding light on the good governance principles, we will show how they become formidable instrument in order to lift away undesirable people from central and strategic spaces. This Mauritanian example highlights the absence of real mobilisation against the unfair displacement. Resistance is scarce and limited to the small scale, showing the impossibility to by-pass the local level and the rise of new political frontiers. This case illustrates the “post-political city” (Swyngedouw, 2009), characterized by complex urban governance.

This paper analyzes the links between financial and trade openness and financial development in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. It is based on a panel dataset using methods that tackle slope heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependence and non-stationarity, important econometric problems that are often ignored in the literature. The results do not point to a general direct robust link between trade and capital account openness and financial development in SSA, once we control for other factors such as GDP per capita and inflation. But there is some indication that trade openness is more important for financial development in countries with better institutional quality. The findings might be due to a number of factors including distortions in domestic financial markets, relatively weak institutions and/or poor financial sector supervision. Thus, African policy makers should be cautious about expectations regarding immediate gains for financial development from greater international integration. Such gains are more likely to occur through indirect channels.

Whereas some scholars have shown that urban contexts are the best place for mobilization, some others have argued that the contemporary complex governance transforms the city into a “post-political” space. Focusing on urban residents’ reactions to slum clearance in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania, this paper seeks to explore these two opposite theses about politics in the Southern urban contexts – the quiet encroachment paradigm versus the post-political thought. Both dynamics are useful and complementary according to the scale of analysis: depoliticization on the level of urban governance and politicization on the level of popular politics.

International audience; In this short remembrance paper, I survey (what I believe are) key events in the evolution of the concepts of preeclampsia from the first workshop in 1998 to the 2012 one, and from Tahiti to Reunion island, via Mauritius and Tioman Island.