THE POLITICIZATION OF THE MALIAN CIVIL SERVICE IN THE CONTEXT OF DEMOCRATIZATION

ABSTRACTThe politicization of the civil service in Mali in the context of democratization had a catastrophic effect on the democratization and development process in Mali. In the first decade of democratization, the "dominant" party permeated and used the civil service to control and take advantage of state resources. In addition, the civil service has been also transformed into a funding agency for the "dominant" party as well as coercion and exclusion machinery. In the second decade the rules of the games were changed while the goal and outcome remained the same. "Dominant" party rule has been replaced with a diffused party system under the name of "consensus" politics.This dissertation examines the phenomenon of the politicization of the Malian civil service in the context of democratization as a hindrance for its development into the institution needed to support and deliver democracy to citizens. Such an examination is important to uncover a new type of politicization whose objective is not to control the civil service for policy purposes, but rather the élite's organized abuse of the state. By using the ethnographic method of studying the concept of politicization of the civil service in the context of democratization, this dissertation argues that the phenomenon of politicization of the civil service in the context of democratization has been a hindrance for the civil service development into the institution needed to support and deliver democracy to citizens. This phenomenon of politicization has also destroyed all state institutions and has endangered the democratization and development processes. The findings of the dissertation show how state leadership has engaged in grand corruption and clientelist practices to reinforce its power. The rupture of the state and its civil service from society, the Malian élite's abuse of the state and its citizens, the joint conspiracy of the administrative and political leaders against the people, and the insidious and organized grand corruption under implementation have caused a crisis in both state authority and state legitimacy as well as the failure of democratization and the development process

L’Afrique et la gouvernance mondiale de la sécurité alimentaire

Les capacités de production propres du continent restent à renforcer. Selon la FAO (2006), « La sécurité alimentaire existe lorsque tous les êtres humains ont, à tout moment, un accès physique et économique à une nourriture suffisante, saine et nutritive leur permettant de satisfaire leurs besoins énergétiques et leurs préférences alimentaires pour mener une vie saine et active ». Plus de cinquante ans après l’accession à l’indépendance de la majorité des États, la faim et la famine persisten..

Performance of Two Cassava (Manihot Escculenta Crantz) Genotypes to NPK Fertilizer in Ultisols of Sikasso Region, Mali

In Mali, cassava is grown on ultisols in Sikasso region situated in the southern part of the country. The yields are however low due to the low fertility of the cassava growing soils, inadequate fertilizer use and low yielding genotypes. This study aimed at determining the effect of four NPK fertilizer (15-15-15) rates (0 kg ha-1, 100 kg ha-1, 200 kg ha-1 and 300 kg ha-1) applications on growth and yield of two cassava genotypes. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was used in two sites during 2016/2017 cropping season. The fertilizer rates were applied in two splits of equal quantity at two weeks after planting and two months later. Data on plant height, numbers of branches, number of stem, stem diameter, number of tubers per plant, and fresh tuber weight were collected. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System (SAS version 9.3). Least Significant Difference (LSD) at p=0.05 was used to separate means. The 300 kg ha-1 of NPK did achieve a significant output on both growth and yield parameters compare to the other rates. The number of tuber per plant and fresh tuber yield increased by 49% and 133% respectively in the plot which received 300 kg ha-1 of NPK compared to the controls. There was a significant correlation (r=0.6533 at P =0.0005) between the NPK fertilizer rates and fresh tuber yield in Loulouni. The results will form a basis for NPK use on cassava in the study area and policy briefs in the country

Comparison of the success rate of inguinal approach with classical pubic approach for obturator nerve block in patients undergoing TURB

BACKGROUND: During transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURB) under spinal anesthesia, electrical resection of the lateral wall mass may cause violent adductor contraction and possible inadvertent bladder perforation. Therefore, obturator nerve block (ONB) is mandatory after spinal anesthesia to avoid adductor muscle contraction. We compared the success rate and efficacy of an inguinal approach, to a pubic approach for ONB. METHODS: One hundred and two patients who required ONB undergoing TURB with spinal anesthesia were included in this study. After spinal anesthesia, ONB was performed with an inguinal approach (Group I, n = 51) or pubic approach (Group P, n = 51) using a nerve stimulator. In the pubic approach, a needle was inserted at a point 1.5 cm lateral and 1.5 cm inferior to the pubic tubercle. For the inguinal approach, a needle was inserted at the midpoint of the femoral artery and the inner margin of the adductor longus muscle 0.5 cm below the inguinal crease. If the adductor contracture had not occurred by the 3rd attempt, it was defined as a failed block. Puncture frequency, success rate, anatomical characteristics, and the presence of adductor muscle contraction during operation were evaluated. RESULTS: The success rate of ONB was higher in group I compared to group P (96.1% vs. 84.0%, P = 0.046) and the frequency of needle attempts was lower in group I than in group P (1.8 ± 0.9 vs. 1.3 ± 0.6, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The inguinal approach for ONB appears to be technically easier and offers certain anatomical advantages when compared to the pubic approach.ope

The linker region of breast cancer resistance protein ABCG2 is critical for coupling of ATP-dependent drug transport.

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters of class G display a different domain organisation than P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 and bacterial homologues with a nucleotide-binding domain preceding the transmembrane domain. The linker region connecting these domains is unique and its function and structure cannot be predicted. Sequence analysis revealed that the human ABCG2 linker contains a LSGGE sequence, homologous to the canonical C-motif/ABC signature present in all ABC nucleotide-binding domains. Predictions of disorder and of secondary structures indicated that this C2-sequence was highly mobile and located between an alpha-helix and a loop similarly to the C-motif. Point mutations of the two first residues of the C2-sequence fully abolished the transport-coupled ATPase activity, and led to the complete loss of cell resistance to mitoxantrone. The interaction with potent, selective and non-competitive, ABCG2 inhibitors was also significantly altered upon mutation. These results suggest an important mechanistic role for the C2-sequence of the ABCG2 linker region in ATP binding and/or hydrolysis coupled to drug efflux

Perennial grain crops in the West Soudanian Savanna of Mali: perspectives from agroecology and gendered spaces

Perennial grain crops may play an important role in environmentally sound and socially just food systems for Africa. We study the future possibility of integrating perennial grains into Malian farming systems from the perspective of agroecology, and more specifically using a gendered space approach. We interviewed 72 farmers across the sorghum-growing region of Mali. We found that perennial grains offer a vision for transforming human relations with nature that mirrors the resource sharing of customary land tenure, including patterns of extensive and intensive land use in time and space. Women interviewees identified a broad set of potential advantages and challenges to perennial grain production. Advantages include reduced labour, saving seed, and improving food security. Women farmers were concerned about livestock, water access, and resource limitations. We argue that perennial grains may increase access to land and natural resources for women farmers. Perennial grains may improve soil quality, reduce labour early in the rainy season, and provision more resources from fallow lands. Pastoralists stand to benefit from improved pastures in the dry season. We conclude that investments are needed to develop viable crop types in consideration of the complexity of West African farming systems and the local needs of women farmers and pastoralists