GDRC RESHUFFLES CABINET

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000023

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CG
SUBJECT: GDRC RESHUFFLES CABINET

REF: A. KINSHASA 2168


B. KINSHASA 2192

C. KINSHASA 1578


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GDRC carried out a sizeable cabinet
reshuffle January 3, replacing the Ministers of Defense,
Mines, and Energy, among others. The long-awaited move is
the outcome of a recent parliamentary report on official
corruption, combined with a desire on the part of the
RCD-Goma's leadership to enforce party discipline. These
changes should not significantly affect USG interests. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) The GDRC carried out a cabinet reshuffle January 3,
involving eleven different ministries. (Note: The 36
ministerial and 25 vice-ministerial posts in the transitional
government are divided up among the various factions in
power, each of which has authority to nominate and and
replace "its" respective appointees. According to the new
lineup, four of the 36 ministries will be headed by women, as
before. End Note.) Although the move mostly affected the
six ministers who were suspended in November 2004 after being
cited by a parliamentary report on official corruption (Ref
A),both the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
(PPRD) and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma) made
additional changes. Post will provide bio information on key
ministers septel.

REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PARLIAMENTARY REPORT ON CORRUPTION:

Minister of Mines - Ingele Ifoto (political opposition),
replaces Eugene Diomi

Minister of Energy - Pierre Muziumba Mwana Hembe (PPRD),
replaces Kalema Lusona

Foreign Trade - Chantal Ngalula Mulumba (RCD-N),replaces
Roger Lumbala (Note: Ngalula is reportedly Lumbala's wife.
End Note.)

Public Works and Infrastructure - left vacant (MLC),(Note:
pending replacement of Jose Endundo. End Note.)

Transport - Eva Mwakasa (political opposition),replaces
Joseph Olengankhoy

University and Higher Education - Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga
(RCD-Goma),replaces Joseph Mudumbi

REPLACEMENTS DUE TO RCD-GOMA RE-DESIGNATION OF MINISTERS:

Minister of Defense - Adolphe Onusumba (RCD-Goma),replaces
Jean-Pierre Ondekane

Minister of Economy - Floribert Bokanga (RCD-Goma),replaces
Emile Ngoy

Labor - Boniface Balamage Nkolo (RCD-Goma),replaces
Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga

REPLACEMENT DUE TO PPRD RE-DESIGNATION OF MINISTERS:

Health - Emile Bongeli ye Ikelo (PPRD),replaces Athanasie
Moleko Moliwa

REPLACEMENT DUE TO VACANCY:

Social Affairs - Laurent Otete Omanga (political opposition),
replaces Ingele Ifoto

COMMENT
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3. (SBU) The shuffle came as no surprise to Kinshasa
observers, in the wake of the parliamentary report on
corruption, and after months of infighting among RCD-Goma
leaders. It is unclear whether the continued vacancy at
Public Works (a slot reserved for Vice President Jean-Pierre
Bemba's Congo Liberation Movement) means Bemba is still
trying to keep Jose Endundo, perhaps his closest confidant
and adviser, in the job or whether the MLC chief simply has
not yet decided on a replacement. The outgoing PPRD Health
Minister was widely perceived as ineffective. The new
RCD-Goma Ministers of Defense and Economy are closer to Vice
President Ruberwa than were their predecessors, both of whom
remained in Kinshasa in August when Ruberwa and other
RCD-Goma officials temporarily suspended their participation
in the transitional government. END COMMENT.
MEECE