GAMBIA - PRESIDENT JAMMEH DISSOLVES CABINET

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000648 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF, AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL GA SUBJECT: GAMBIA - PRESIDENT JAMMEH DISSOLVES CABINET Classified By: CDA C. Patricia Alsup, Reason 1.4 (b and d) 1.(U) On the evening of October 18, the Office of the President of The Gambia issued a press release announcing that President Jammeh was dissolving the Cabinet effective immediately. Press accounts indicate that the former Secretaries of State will turn over their departments today SIPDIS to their respective Permanent Secretaries who will manage the Departments until a new Cabinet is appointed. The full text of the press release follows; BEGIN TEXT His Excellency Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, acting under the provisions of Section 76(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, has decided to dissolve the Cabinet with effect from today 18 October 2006. END TEXT ¶2. (U) The government-controlled newspaper, the Daily Observer, featured photos of all of the Secretaries of State and the Vice President on its front page. As of mid-day October 19 there has been no further information released by the Office of the President on plans for a new cabinet. ¶3. COMMENT. (C) Cabinet changes are frequent in The Gambia and Gambians generally seem unsurprised and unfazed by this latest move. At this point there is only speculation as to why President Jammeh made this move at this time or who will make up the new Cabinet. Some have suggested that Jammeh simply wanted to send a clear message that he is in charge. Others postulate that he wants to make room to appoint some of those those who supported him in the recent elections. We expect that some of the dismissed SOS's will be reappointed -- some to their old positions and others to new positions -- but there will also likely be a few new faces. END COMMENT ALSUP