BRAZZAVILLE IN BRIEF - NOVEMBER 23, 2007

UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000455 SIPDIS SIPDIS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, DEPT FOR AF/EX PMO MARTINEZ, DEPT FOR AF/C DESK OFFICER BARGERON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EFIN EAID ENRG CF SUBJECT: BRAZZAVILLE IN BRIEF - NOVEMBER 23, 2007 ¶1. EmbBrazzaville is an unclassified Post. ¶2. President Denis Sassou-Nguesso attended the official launch of the multi-national military maneuvers called Barh El Gazel being conducted as part of the peacekeeping operations under the auspices Economic Community of States Central Africa (ECCAS). During his stay in Chad, the President met with Idriss Diby Itno, on the issues of security and peace in Central Africa. ¶3. Edouard Ambrose Noumazalaye, President of the Congolese Senate and Secretary General of the Congolese Labor Party (PCT) died November 17 in Paris, aged 73. He is purported to have been the closest friend and confidante of President Sassou-Nguesso. He began his career in 1966 as Prime Minister, and remained in government until his death, his last office being the President of the Senate. Within the last five months, the RoC has lost three former prime ministers. ¶4. RoC Minister of Mines Pierre Oba signed an agreement with Managem, a Moroccan-based firm, to begin exploration of gold in the area of Kouilou. After initial inspections of the area, the managing director of Managem, Abdellaziz Abarro, commented that this exploration will have a positive impact on the socio-economic development of the country. The agreement includes creating a company to operate in compliance with the Congolese law: 90 percent of the shares allotted to the company Managem or an affiliated company and 10 percent of shares assigned to the Congolese State. ¶5. The Habitat Bank, to be used for home loans, has opened its doors with a budget of US$5 million for FY2008. In an attempt to create a middle class segment of the RoC population, the RoC contracted with Chinese construction companies to build apartment complexes and housing compounds. The smallest apartment for sale, one bedroom one bath, will sell for approximately US$66,000. ¶6. The national oil company SNPC inaugurated the renovation of their office building. The renovations, to the tune of US$14 million, were done by the China Beijing Residential Development and Construction Group Corporation. On the same note, a delegation of construction company owners from the Republic of China visited Brazzaville this past week to review possible public work programs in the RoC. This delegation focused on the development of roads in the northern part of the RoC. WEISBERG