NEW GOVERNOR OR URUZGAN PROVINCE TAKES OFFICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001211 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PGOV SOCI AF SUBJECT: NEW GOVERNOR OR URUZGAN PROVINCE TAKES OFFICE WITHOUT INCIDENT REF: STATE Classified By: TARIN KOWT PRT OFFICER RICHARD REITER FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Malawi Hakim MONIB, President Karzai's appointee as new Governor of Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan, arrived in Tarin Kowt on the morning of March 18 nearly three weeks after his appointment. Outgoing Governor Jan Mohammed Khan greeted Monib graciously, pledging support and assistance to the new governor. Monib's first morning in Uruzgan passed uneventfully as he met with Jan Mohammed and provincial leaders at the governor's compound. Monib, who has allied with Uruzgan's ANP Chief Rozi Khan, arrived with 45 armed supporters and plans to bring more. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) Hakim Monib arrived at the Tarin Kowt PRT airstrip on the morning of March 18, accompanied by Interior Ministry officials from Kabul and about 45 followers (his chief-of-staff indicated he will bring several dozen more in the coming days),most of whom carried new AK-47s. He also brought medicine and blankets for the Tarin Kowt hospital. By previous arrangement, he was met on the ground by Rozi Khan, provincial chief of the ANP who is the rival of outgoing governor Jan Mohammed. Khan brought two truckloads of armed police. Once on the ground, Monib requested that the PRT Commander and Poloff also escort him into town, which we did. ¶4. (C) Monib, in his early 30s, is from a small Pashtun tribe in Paktia province. He was Deputy Minister of Border and Tribal Affairs during the Taliban era and appears on the UN 1267 list. He appeared self-assured and confident during the transition of power, speaking forcefully and smoothly after the Deputy Interior Minister introduced him to a meeting of provincial leaders chaired by Gov. Jan Mohammed and read President Karzai's statement of appointment. In his remarks Monib focused on three themes: he seeks close cooperation with the provincial leaders and public; he will place a heavy focus on education; and his administration will abide by the laws of Islam and Afghanistan. Monib is an educated man, and while trying out some rudimentary English over lunch he explained that getting people skilled in medicine, engineering, and computers will be key to Uruzgan's development. At two morning meetings and at lunch, Monib went out of his way to ensure that PRT commander and Poloff sat front and center near to him and to Jan Mohammed, while ANP Chief Rozi Khan lurked nearby. ¶5. (C) Monib was graciously received at the governor's compound by Jan Mohammed Khan. Jan Mohammed pledged his personal support and that of his Pashtun-Populzai tribe to Monib's success, but did not reveal when he plans to leave Tarin Kowt to take up his duties in Kabul at the Ministry of Border and Tribal Affairs. Governor Monib's first hours in Uruzgan passed peacefully and uneventfully. He will sleep in the Governor's compound tonight and told us he plans to hold a series of meetings in the coming days to hear the views of Uruzgan's leaders. NEUMANN NORLAND