Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03SANAA1150
2003-05-21 04:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

YEMEN'S NEW GOVERNMENT: NEW BLOOD, MODEST REFORM,

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR YE DOMESTIC POLITICS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANAA 001150 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR YE DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: YEMEN'S NEW GOVERNMENT: NEW BLOOD, MODEST REFORM,
EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY

Classified By: DCM ALAN MISENHEIMER FOR REASON 1.5 (D) ,

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANAA 001150

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR YE DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: YEMEN'S NEW GOVERNMENT: NEW BLOOD, MODEST REFORM,
EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY

Classified By: DCM ALAN MISENHEIMER FOR REASON 1.5 (D) ,

--------------
Summary
--------------

1. (C): Begin Summary: ROYG Prime Minister Ba Jammal's new
Cabinet (complete list para 12) introduces several fresh
faces, but incumbents retain the major ministries and all
Ministers are members of the General People's Congress (GPC).
At a glance:
- By relative population, the South (10 Ministers) outweighs
the North (25 Ministers) and scores important portfolios for
junior technocrats.
- The average age drops, ten Ministers are Members of
Parliament, purely tribal/family influence has waned and
education levels are high.
- Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ahmed
Sofan wins the added title of Deputy Prime Minister.
- The sole female Minister takes her female predecessor's
portfolio, but is moved up to full Minister.
- Some former Ministers with poor records are dismissed;
others with marginal reputations remain.


2. (C) The new Cabinet is ready for business and tasked with
reform. It should perform adequately. However, by limiting
Ministers to GPC party stalwarts, and selecting only one
woman for the Cabinet, Prime Minister Ba Jammal seems to have
aimed for business as usual over bold change. End Summary

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Fifty Percent Turnover
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3. (U) On May 17, ROYG President Ali Abdullah Salih approved
the new Cabinet presented by incumbent Prime Minister Abdul
Qadir Ba Jammal. The list includes 15 new ministers (and
two former ministers with new portfolios) in a total Cabinet
of 35, a near fifty percent replacement rate. However, the
most important Ministries are unchanged: Alawi Saleh
Al-Salami as Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister, Abubakir
Abdullah al-Qirbi in Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Alaywah in
Defense, Rashad al-Alimi in Interior and Ahmed Mohammed Sofan
as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.

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Minister of Planning Promoted
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4. (C) The most important change from the Embassy's
perspective may be Ahmed Sofan's promotion to Deputy Prime
Minister, retaining his portfolio as Minister of Planning and

International Cooperation (no longer "Planning and
Development".) Some observers believe the Prime Minister
needs him as a counterweight to the powerful Finance
Minister, Alawi Saleh al-Salami, who reigned as sole Deputy
Prime Minister in the previous cabinet. Comment: While
al-Salami gets good marks from the World Bank and others for
his strict monetary policy, he has been less effective in
advancing business and development. In contrast, Sofan, a
successful businessman by background, has made his planning
and development portfolio a center for long-term investments
in Yemen's social and human resources. End Comment

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The South Keeps Its Edge
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5. (U) The North/South tally of cabinet seats (25/10) is
still tipped toward Aden by relative population
(approximately 16 million to four million.) In addition,
several new Cabinet Ministers have portfolios that reflect
the long-standing Southern edge in education and
international business. The new Ministers of Justice,
Transportation, Fisheries, Industry, Higher Education and
Technical Education have impressive credentials as Southern
technocrats.

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DEMOGRAPHICS
--------------

6. (U) The average age of the Cabinet has declined, with two
young Ministers and no elder statesmen. For example, the new
Ministers of both Justice and Agriculture are thirty-four,
but most Ministers weigh in with solid forties and fifties.
In a sign of growing technocracy, 12 Ministers have PhD's and
seven have MA's. Only four Ministers come from wealthy
commercial families and only three have important tribal
standing. The single woman member is a notable Cabinet
standout. Former Ambassador to the Netherlands Amat al-Alim
al-Soswah takes the designated female portfolio of Human
Rights, but as a concession to her public stature, she was
elevated to full Minister, rather than Minister of State.

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New Stars For The Party?
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7. (U) Ten Ministers are Members of Parliament, including
seven impressive first-time winners in the recent elections.
Sanaa's mayor, Ahmed al-Kohlani, Minister of State without
Portfolio, may be the most outstanding, given his effective
administrative record. His tribal connections, while
important, may be less of a factor than his high popularity
in the capital city.


8. (U) The new Ministers of Agriculture, Justice, Transport
and Civil Service also shine as freshman Parliamentarians.
They all showed electoral prowess, and now have the fortune
to replace marginally effective former Ministers. The GPC
will mark these new party stars for bright futures if they
can manage their first portfolios more successfully than
their predecessors.

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COMMENT
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9. (U) Yemen is changing, and even such establishment
institutions as the Cabinet are beginning to reflect more
important priorities than tribal and regional preferences.
For example, the distinction between North and South may
gradually be losing its importance as groups begin to align
by common interests and issues: political parties; business;
religion; reform.


10. (C) Ba Jammal could and should have nominated a number of
well-qualified female Ministers. However, his sole choice is
a good one. She may help pave the way for more
representative government in the future. The Cabinet's
educated young technocrats have impressive credentials and
should be able to conduct public business with more
credibility than their predecessors. By ridding himself of
deadwood (like the former Education Minister) Ba Jammal
should accomplish more in his second term.


11. (C) The GPC's landslide victory in the recent elections,
although hampered by losses in Sanaa and tarnished by
controversy over vote-counting in some districts, gives the
government a solid mandate for its programs. The GPC must
now show the public that it heard the electorate's clear
calls for government reform. Ba Jammal seems to have split
the difference - continuity in the power ministries but
significant change elsewhere. End Comment

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12. Complete List of New Cabinet Members
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PRIME MINSTER - Abdul-Qadir Abdul-Rahman Ba Jammal

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FINANCE MINISTER - Alawi Saleh
al-Salami

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER OF PLANNING & INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION - Ahmed Mohammed Sofan

AGRICULTURE & IRRIGATION - Engineer Hasan Omer Mohammed Sowaid

AWQAF & RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE - Hamoud Mohammed Obad

CIVIL SERVICE & SOCIAL SECURITY - Hamoud Khaled Naji al-Soufi

COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Engineer
Abdul-Malik al-Mu,allimi

CULTURE & TOURISM - Khaled Abdullah Slaih al-Rowaishan

DEFENSE - MG Abdullah Ali Alaywah

EDUCATION - Dr. Abdul-Salam Mohammed Hizam al-Jawfi

ELECTRICITY - Abdul-Rahman Mohammed Tarmom

EXPATRIATE AFFAIRS - Abduh Ali Qubati

FISHERIES - Ali Mohammed Mojawer

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Dr. Abu-Baker Abdullah al-Qirbi

HIGHER EDUCATION & SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - Dr. Abdu-Wahab Rawih

HUMAN RIGHTS - Amat-al-Alim al-Soswah

INDUSTRY & TRADE - Dr. Khaled Rajih Shiekh

INFORMATION - Hussein Dhaifallah al-Awadhi

INTERIOR - Dr. Rashad al-Alimi

JUSTICE - Dr. Adnan Omer Mohammed al-Jefri

LEGAL AFFAIRS - Dr. Rashad Ahmed Yahia al-Rassas

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION - Sadiq Ameen Abu-Rass
OIL & MINERALS - Dr. Rashid Salih Ba Rabba

PUBLIC HEALTH & POPULATION - Dr. Mohammed Yahia Awadh
al-No,emi

PUBLIC WORK & ROADS - Engineer Abdullah Hussein al-Daf,ei

SOCIAL AFFAIRS & LABOR - Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi

TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL EDUCATION - Dr. Ali Mansour Mohammed
Bin Safaa

TRANSPORT - Omer Muhsen Abdul-Rahman al-Amoudi

WATER & ENVIRONMENT - Dr. Mohammed Lutf Mohammed al-Iriani

YOUTH & SPORT - Abdul-Rahamn al-Akwa

MINISTER OF STATE & SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PRESIDENCY - MG
Engineer Abdullah Hussein al-Bashiri
MINISTER OF STATE & MEMBER OF THE CABINET - Qassim Ahmed
al-Ajam

MINISTER OF STATE & MEMBER OF THE CABINET - Mohammed Ali
Yasir

MINISTER OF STATE & MAYOR OF SANAA - Ahmed Mohammed Yahia
al-Kohlani
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PALIAMENTARY AND SHURA COUNCIL AFFAIRS
-Mohammed Yahia Hamoud al-Sharafi
HULL