Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINSHASA29
2005-01-06 15:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

CONGO/B: GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ASKED TO RESIGN, NEW

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON ASEC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000029 

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ASEC
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ASKED TO RESIGN, NEW
CABINET TO BE ANNOUNCED JAN 8

REF: 04 KINSHASA 02115

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000029

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ASEC
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ASKED TO RESIGN, NEW
CABINET TO BE ANNOUNCED JAN 8

REF: 04 KINSHASA 02115


1. (SBU) ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, MINISTERIES
INCLUDED, WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT THEIR RESIGNATIONS LATE
EVENING JANUARY 5, 2004. WE ARE TOLD THAT THE CABINET WILL
DRASTICALLY CHANGE, AND THAT PRESIDENT SASSOU WILL ANNOUNCE
THE NEW CABINET ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2005. IN ADDITION
OUR CONTACTS HAVE INFORMED US THAT NOT ONLY WILL COMPOSITION
CHANGE, BUT THE CUMBERSOME 37 MEMBER CABINET WILL BE REDUCED
TO AROUND 26 MEMBERS OR LESS. THE GOAL OF THE CABINET
SHUFFLE, WHICH HAD BEEN RUMORED FOR SOME TIME, IS TO
POSITION HIMSELF MORE AS A REFORMER, AND HAVE MORE PEOPLE
AROUND HIM THAT CAN ENSURE THAT THE COUNTRY STAYS ON THE
RIGHT TRACK FOR IMF AND BEGIN THE HARDER TASK OF POLITICAL
REFORM. THERE ARE POLITICAL RISKS TO THE CABINET RESHUFFLE
SINCE MOST OF THE INNER CIRCLE ARE FROM OTHER NORTHERN
ETHNIC GROUPS WHO HELPED HIM WIN THE 1997-1999 WARS AND ARE
ALREADY UNHAPPY BECAUSE THE PURSE STRINGS ARE TIGHTER WITH
THE IMF WATCHING. HOWEVER, AS REPORTED REFTEL, PRESIDENT
SASSOU IS TRYING TO APPEAR TO BE A REFORMER AND WANTS TO
ESTABLISH HIS NEW UNION OF THE REPUBLIC PARTY, BREAKING AWAY
FROM THE OLD PCT PARTY HARDLINERS, MANY HAILING FROM THE OLD
SOVIET DAYS. THE CABINET SHUFFLE IS HIS PUBLIC STEP IN THAT
DIRECTION. POST WILL REPORT FURTHER ONCE NEW CABINET IS
ANNOUNCED JAN 8.


2. BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE - SANDERS.

MEECE