DJIBOUTI: 2005 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR NOMINATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000747

SIPDIS

Dept for ECA/PE/V/G/A and AF/PD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: 2005 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR NOMINATIONS

SUMMARY

1. (U) Djibouti proposes three candidates for
International Visitors Programs in 2005. END SUMMARY


2. (U) Djibouti is host to the only U.S. military base in
Africa and a strategic partner in the War on Terror.
Exposure to Americans has been limited and the population,
which is 90 percent Muslim, is often ambivalent about the
United States and our presence in country. As the only
French speaking country in English speaking East Africa, our
ability to tap into regional resources is limited. We
believe the international visitors program is an important
step to building strong Francophone support in this front
line state in the GWOT


3. (U) Post has made every effort to focus on our critical
core MPP priorities in nominations including support of the
Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, the development of
the host relationship with the International Board of
Broadcasters and good governance and development issues.

NOMINEES

4. (U) Please find post's nominees in priority order for
2005:

Program: Transparency and Good Governance, March 7 - 25,
2005

A. Nominee's Full Name Hawa Ahmed Youssouf
B: Home Address n/a
Telephone: 253 35 34 09
Email: n/a

C. Date and Place of Birth: 9/11/66, Djibouti

D. Gender: F

E. Medical, Physical, Dietary, other restrictions: Muslim
Diet

F. Present Position and Title: Minister of Promotion of
Women, Well-being and Social Affairs

G. Current Institutional Affiliation: Ministry of Social
Affairs

H. Work Experience: Advisor to the Minister of Finance (1991-
1998); Second governor of the World Bank, Djibouti (1992-
1999); Assistant Governor of the African Development Bank,
Djibouti (1992-1999),President of Women's Issues Ministry -
IGAD (2000)

I. Education, Academic and Professional Training: Civics and
International Studies, Reims, France.

J. Professional Memberships: n/a

K. Previous Travel and Study in the U.S: Conference travel,
NYC

L. Language Capacity: French 4/4; English 3/3; Arabic 1/1.

M. Post Statement: Hawa is Djibouti's first and only female
minister. She is articulate, reliable and progressive - a
strong voice for women's rights and other social issues. She
will continue to act as strong and valuable voice of dissent
in the Djiboutian government in the future, and supports
many of our mission objectives re: transparency, democracy
and social justice.

N. Post Action Officer: Tiffany Bartish, Public Affairs
Officer, bartishtm@state.gov, tel: 253 35 39 95 Fax: 253 35
39 40. Secondary Contact: Ismahan Osman, Public Affairs
Clerk, osmania@state.gov, repeat phone and fax.

Program: Radio Broadcasting, January 31 - February 18, 2005

A. Nominee's Full Name: Nabil Dorani
B: Home Address:
Telephone: 253 353928
Email: n/a

C. Date and Place of Birth: 7/13/53, Djibouti

D. Gender: M

E. Medical, Physical, Dietary, other restrictions: Muslim
Diet

F. Present Position and Title: Director of Programming at
Radio Television Djibouti

G. Current Institutional Affiliation: Radio Television
Djibouti

H. Work Experience: Assistant Director, Quidam. Director of
a dozen features in Arabic and French, Producer, RTD from
1984-2000. Director of Programming, RTD since 2000

I. Education, Academic and Professional Training: History of
Film, Sorbonne. Journalism Studies, Hedeberg Foundation

J. Professional Memberships: n/a

K. Previous Travel and Study in the U.S.: n/a

L. Language Capacity: Fluent in French, Somali and Arabic
(4/4, 4/4, 3/3)

M. Post Statement: RTD has become increasingly important to
Embassy Djibouti as a partner institution for a multi-
million dollar IBB program. In addition, as the main radio
and television outlet in Djibouti, post is attempting to
partner with RTD to produce short public service pieces on
anti-terrorism themes, especially in Somali and French. Mr.
Dorani is progressive, an important

N. Post Action Officer: Tiffany Bartish, Public Affairs
Officer, bartishtm@state.gov, tel: 253 35 39 95 Fax: 253 35
39 40. Secondary Contact: Ismahan Osman, Public Affairs
Clerk, osmania@state.gov, repeat phone and fax.

Grassroots Democracy, April 11-29, 2005

A. Nominee's Full Name: Zeinab Kamil Ali
B: Home Address: BP 259 Djibouti
Telephone: 253 35 85 07
Email: zeinab70@yahoo.com

C. Date and Place of Birth: 7/29/1970

D. Gender: F

E. Medical, Physical, Dietary, other restrictions: Muslim
Diet

F. Present Position and Title: Deputy Director of
Administration and Commerce, ONED (Djibouti Water Office)

G. Current Institutional Affiliation: Ministry of
Agriculture

H. Work Experience: Mrs. Ali has worked at the Public Water
Company for 12 years where she has held positions including:
Chief of Personnel, Deputy Chief of Personnel, Media Liaison
and Advisor to the Director General.

I. Education, Academic and Professional Training: MA in law
from the University of Besanon (France)

J. Professional Memberships: Djiboutian Commission for Human
Rights, Member of the Conseil Superieur de la Magistrature,
Member of the design Committee for the Strategy for the
Reduction of Poverty.

K. Previous Travel and Study in the U.S.

L. Language Capacity: French 4/4, Afar 5/5.

M. Post Statement: Mrs. Ali has introduced several measures
geared at workers' rights. She is well-regarded in her
Ministry and known for her integrity and vision. She is one
of the few women of Afar ethnicity who play a role in the
government. Indeed, most Afar women are relatively
uneducated. We foresee that Mrs. Ali will continue to play
an important role in government and consider her a prime
candidate for a program that focuses on transparency and
social action.

N. Post Action Officer: Tiffany Bartish, Public Affairs
Officer, bartishtm@state.gov, tel: 253 35 39 95 Fax: 253 35
39 40. Secondary Contact: Ismahan Osman, Public Affairs
Clerk, osmania@state.gov, repeat phone and fax.