Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
05DJIBOUTI498 | 2005-05-23 13:09:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Djibouti |
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 02 DJIBOUTI 000498 |
1. (U) Summary: With the start of President Ismail Omar Guelleh's second term comes the customary change in cabinet. As required by law, Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita submitted his resignation Thursday, May 19th to President Guelleh. Saturday, May 21st, Guelleh issued a decree re-appointing Dileita as Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, it was Dileita's task to make any changes to the cabinet with the approval of the President. The new cabinet was announced Sunday, May 22nd in the afternoon via radio. President Guelleh's new cabinet consists of many of the same people with only five new Ministers. Of the five ministers removed, three received appointments as special advisors to the President. Most of the remaining Ministers were shuffled into different positions, while only five members of the cabinet, plus Dileita, kept their original position. End Summary. 2. (C) Guelleh's new cabinet now consists of the following members: Prime Minister: Dileita Mohamed Dileita (Afar) - same position Minister of Labor: Houmed Mohamed Dini (Afar) - new member Minister of Education: Abdi Ibrahim Absieh (Issa, Wardiiq) - same position Minister of Justice: Mohamed Barkat Abdillahi (Gadaboursi) - Fmr. Labor Minister of Youth: Hassan Farah Miguil (Issa) - new member Minister of Health: Abdallah Abdillahi Miguil (Issa, Ourweyn) - Fmr. Environment Minister of Environment: Elmi Obsieh Waiss (Issa, Fourlaba) - Fmr. Transport Minister of Finance: Ali Farah Assoweh (Issa, Horone) - new member Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mahamoud Ali Youssouf (Afar) - Fmr. Int'l Cooperation Minister of Interior: Yacin Elmi Bouh (Issa, Mamassan) - Fmr. Finance Minister of Defense: Ougoureh Kifleh Ahmed (Afar) - same position Minister of Transport: Ismail Ibrahim Houmed (Afar) - Fmr. Justice Minister of Energy: Mohamed Ali Mohamed (Issa, Walaaldon) - same position Minister of Agriculture: Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed - new member Minister of Commerce: Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakrama (Arab, Yemeni) - Fmr. Communication Minister of Communication: Ali Abdi Farah (Issak, Haber Awal) - Fmr. Foreign Affairs Minister of Presidential Affairs: Osman Ahmed Moussa (Issa, Saad Moussa) - same position Minister Delegated to the Affairs of Women: Aicha Mohamed Robleh (Afar) - new member Minister Delegated to Int'l Cooperation: Hawa Ahmed Youssouf (Issa, Saad Moussa) - Fmr. Women's Affairs Minister Delegated to Wafks: Cheikh Mogueh Dirir Samatar (Issa, Saad Moussa) - same position 3. (C) Former Ministers of Commerce, Health, and Interior all received appointments as special advisors to the President or other positions of equal importance. Saleban Omar Oudine (Fmr. Commerce Min.) is now Technical Counselor to the Prime Minister in charge of New Technology and Information. Mohamed Ali Kamil (Fmr. Health) is now Counselor to the President in charge of Food Security. Abdoulkader Doualeh Waiss (Fmr. Interior) is now the Mediator of the Republic. Former Ministers Dini Abdallah Bililis (Agriculture) and Otban Goita Moussa (Youth) are no longer part of the government. 4. (C) The reasons behind the shifts and removals are still matters of speculation. Many believe the former Minister of Interior, Abdoulkader Doualeh Waiss, was seen as too talkative, free with his opinions and information, and not diplomatic with foreigners. Some suspect that Yacin Elmi Bouh's move from Finance to Interior, both important ministries, is to give the Mamassans (Guelleh's sub-clan) more control over security matters and possibly to groom him as the next president. This is a rumor that follows talk about a group within the Mamassan sub-clan that is dead-set on keeping control within the Mamassans. 5. (C) The changes have also reportedly caused some anger within the ruling coalition, Union for Presidential Majority (UMP). One of the four parties making up UMP, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), led by Moumin Bahdon Farah, was allegedly promised ministerial seats, but received none. This has apparently caused anger within the party leadership. Farah was part of the government under Hassan Gouled Aptidon, serving 15 years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 2 years as Minister of Justice. During his tenure as Justice Minister a disagreement with Aptidon put Farah in jail, at which point he turned opposition. He returned to the government's favor when Guelleh came to power. No rumors have indicated what PSD's next move might be. 6. (C) Bio Data on new Ministers: -Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed: Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and the Ocean. Born 1951 in Souali, District of Obock (Afar ethnicity). Holds a Science and Technology degree from the Water Institute at the University of Limoges specializing in water treatment and purification (1977-1979). Served as Director of the National Water Office (ONED) since its creation in 1983. Served as Interim Director of Water Management prior to the creation of ONED. Married to Guelleh's niece. -Houmed Mohamed Dini: Minister of Labor and Solidarity. Born in 1953 in Mabla, District of Obock (Afar). Nephew of Ahmed Dini Ahmed, late head of the opposition coalition and president of the opposition party, Republican Alliance for Development (ARD). Holds a certificate of capacity to study law from the University of Sceaux, France. Completed two years of law school at Paris-Tolbiac. Served as Inspector of Indirect Contributions in 1982. -Aicha Mohamed Robleh: Minister Delegated under the Prime Minister, Charged with the Promotion of Women, Family Well-Being and Social Affairs. Born 18 September 1965 in Weina, District of Tadjourah (Afar). Graduated from University of Cameroon with a degree in Labor Law. Head of the Commercial Service of Prisunic. Judicial Affairs Assistant to the Labor Minister from 1991-1997. Worked with UN Development Program on the National Rehabilitation project from October 1997 to January 2001. Member of Parliament since 2003. -Ali Farah Assoweh: Minister of the Economy, Finances, and Planning, Charged with Privatization. Born 03 July, 1965 in Djibouti (Issa, Horone). Holds a Bachelor in Economics and a Master in Economic and Political Management. Head of the Studies and Evaluation Office in the Ministry of Education from 1992-1994. Head of Financial Services in the Ministry of Education from 1994-1999. Assistant Director of Budget Development in the Ministry of Finance from 2000-2001. Director of Budgetary Controls in the Ministry of Finance from 2001-2004. Secretary General of the Ministry of the Presidency from April 2004-May 2005. -Hassan Farah Miguil: Minister of Youth, Sports, Leisure and Tourism. Former Mediator of the Republic. No further bio data available. RAGSDALE |