Les villes petites et moyennes : un facteur de développement des pays de l'Afrique subsaharienne ?

Résumé

In Africa south of the Sahara, like elsewhere in the world, small- and medium-size towns constitute the bulk of what is usually referred to as "towns". These towns do not however, correspond to what is commonly portrayed. Quite frequently, and especially
in this geographical sphere, the problems of big towns conceal those of the small ones.  Since the 1980's, moreover, the role of these towns in national development has been on the headlines. It is our intention in this article, to cite some of the difficulties
currently encountered by these small- and medium-size towns in this part of the continent with regard to on-going endeavours in democratization and decentralization as well as highlight the crucial necessity of paying them more attention if a balanced territorial development must be achieved.