BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES CABINET CHANGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000513

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017
TAGS: PHUM PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES CABINET CHANGES

REF: A. BUJUMBURA 422


B. BUJUMBURA 453

C. BUJUMBURA 376

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Moller for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary. President Nkurunziza announced new
appointments in seven ministries, and announced the creation
of a new Ministry, the Ministry of Regional Integration and
Cooperation. They mark the third round of new appointments
in the Nkurunziza government since early June 2007. Two of
Burundi's largest political parties chose not to participate
in the new government, notably the Burundian Front for
Democracy (FRODEBU) and the Union for National Progress
(UPRONA). In his appointments the President included two
former members of the government, former President of the
National Assembly Immaculee Nahayo, and former Minister of
Communication, Ramadhan Karenga, who was tapped to head the
new ministry. Nahayo and Karenga are strong supporters of
ousted CNDD-FDD chairman Hussein Radjabu, and their return to
the government could serve as political cover for the
President should Radjabu's posible conviction for "intent to
disrupt national security through an armed rebellion" create
a backlash among his other supporters. End Summary.


2. (U) Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza announced new
ministerial appointments July 13 in seven of the twenty-three
Ministries within his cabinet. He also announced the
creation of a new ministry, the Ministry of Regional
Integration and Cooperation. This announcement marks the
third round of changes in President Nkurunziza's
administration since early June 2007, following changes first
in his senior staff (Reftel A) and then in the Presidency of
the Constitutional Court and six of Burundi's seventeen
governorships (Reftel B).


3. (U) Burundi's second and third largest political parties,
the Burundian Front for Democracy (FRODEBU),and the Union
for National Progress (UPRONA) announced that they would not
particpate in the new government,with UPRONA even going so
far as threatening July 14 to dismiss the First
Vice-President (from UPRONA) for co-signing the President's
decree announcing the new government. Dr Yves Sahinguvu, of
UPRONA, stated that he was not consulted before being
nominated, and would not serve in the government. He further
said that to accept the appointment from the President under
these circumstances would be a violation of the UPRONA
party's internal rules, which he refused to do.


4. (U) The Government of Burundi offered no official reason
for the ministerial changes. In a meeting with leaders of
the three major parties on July 10, reported in the media to
have lasted no longer than five minutes, Nkurunziza took
nominations for potential candidates put forth for the widely
anticipated cabinet changes. According to reports in the
media, the Burundian Front for Democracy (FRODEBU) did not
put forward candidates for the cabinet. Parties that
collected more than 5% of the votes in the last general
election are entitled to representation in the government,
but are not required to participate. Positions in the
cabinet, as directed by the Constitution, are allocated
according to party affiliation, but the president of the
republic is allowed to appoint Ministerial positions as he or
she wishes.



5. (U) The new appointments are as follows:

-- Ministry of Finance: Madame Clotilde Nizigama, formerly
the Administrative Director of the Burundian Agency of
Execution of Works in the Public Interest (ABUTIP). Nizigama
is a member of the National Council for the Defense of
Democracy - Forces for the defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD).
She replaces Madame Denise Sinankwa (CNDD-FDD).

-- Ministry of Commerce and Industry: Madame Estella
Nicayenzi, formerly worked for Socit Burundais de
Financement (SBF),one of Burundi's leading banks. Nicayenzi
is a member of CNDD-FDD. She replaces Jean Bigirimana
(CNDD-FDD).

-- Ministry of Public Works and Equipment: Joseph
Hasabamagara, formerly held the position of Deputy member of
the CNDD-FDD. Hasabamagara replaces Potame Nizigire
(CNDD-FDD).

-- Ministry of Transportation, Post, and Telecommunications:
Philippe Njoni, formerly the Principal Councilor in the
office of the First Vice-President. Njoni is a member of the
Union for National Progress (UPRONA). He replaces Marie
Goreth Nizigame (UPRONA).

-- Ministry of Public Health: Dr. Yves Sahinguvu was
appointed, but withdrew his name from consideration. He is a
member of UPRONA, and would have replaced Dr.Triphonie
Nkurunziza (PARENA).
-- A new Minister of Public Health was appointed July 16, but
Embassy is unable at this time to confirm the correct
spelling of her name.

-- Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Security:
Daniel Kinigi, formerly manager in charge of public
enterprises in the Ministry of Public Function, Labor, and
Social Security. Kingi is a member of the Movement for the
Citizen's Reconciliation (MRC). He replaces Juvenal
Ngogwanabusa (MRC).

-- Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights, and Gender:
Immaculee Nahayo, formerly the President of the National
Assembly. Nahayo is a member of the CNDD-FDD. She replaces
Francoise Ngendahayo (MSP-Inkinzo).

-- Ministry of Regional Integration and Cooperation: Ramadhan
Karenga, formerly the Minster of Information, Communications,
Relations with the Parliament, and Spokesman for the
Government. Karenga is a member of the CNDD-FDD. This is a
newly created cabinet ministry.


6. (C) Comment. It is not yet clear why the President made
these changes in his cabinet at this time, as there is little
change along party lines. It is worth noting, however, the
return of two former highly-placed members of the government,
the former President of the National Assembly, Immaculee
Nahayo, and former Minister of Communications, Ramadhan
Karenga. Each of them are well known as loyal supporters of
ousted CNDD-FDD party president Hussein Radjabu, currently in
prison awaiting trial for "intent to disrupt national
security through an armed rebellion." (Reftel C) Nahayo and
Karenga, both members of the CNDD-FDD, were reported to have
received "strong and sustained applause" when their names
were announced at the July 16 swearing-in ceremony for the
new members of the government. If, through these two
appointments, President Nkurunziza can share in some of that
"glow", he benefits politically. In addition, the
President's appointment of these two popular supporters of
Radjabu could serve as political cover should Radjabu's
possible conviction create a backlash among his other
supporters.

7.(C) Indeed, many here believe that Karenga is, perhaps,
Radjabu's staunchest supporter in the government. One
long-time Burundian observer of the political scene here
noted that, since Radjabu's arrest, funds from Muslim donors
outside Burundi have shrunk considerably. He suggests that
Karenga's return to a prominent position within the
government could be a signal of goodwill to those supporters,
and may serve to refresh a dried-up source of much-needed
donations. The new ministry that he will head, Regional
Integration and Cooperation, is a timely addition to the
government, considering Burundi's recent entry into the East
African Community, an organization important to Burundi's
future, and comprises countries with large Muslim
communities. Karenga's standing within that community, and
his closeness to the former CNDD-FDD chairman, could
partially explain his return to the government. End Comment.
MOLLER