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 -------------- ¶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