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Kayes, an open city. International migrations and transport in the west of Mali In the Sahel, towns and cities born of the colonial era are experiencing a revival as points of passage for international migrants. Such long-distance flows of people are stimulating local areas into a new dynamism. The town of Kayes, in western Mali, is the scene of fluxes of travellers voyaging between different African countries. It owes its attraction to its position in West African transport networks. The circulation of people at different scales means that the borders with Senegal and Mauritania are no longer barriers but spaces for regional integration.