BENIN: PROFILES OF NEW MINISTERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COTONOU 000494 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W (DBANKS) PARIS FOR D'ELIA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON BN SUBJECT: BENIN: PROFILES OF NEW MINISTERS REF: COTONOU 440 COTONOU 00000494 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. This is the second in a series of telegrams concerning the newly formed government of President Boni Yayi. Reftel provided a list of ministers. This telegram provides profiles of ten new ministers who, along with returning Defense Minister N'Douro and Economy Minister Koupaki, will be the key interlocutors for the Embassy and USG on policy and program issues in our bilateral relations. MINISTER OF FINANCE -------------- ¶2. An economist by profession, Mr. Soul Mana Lawani held several senior positions at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)in Dakar, Senegal, including Director of Accounting and Budget. When President Boni Yayi took office in April 2006, he called upon Mr. Lawani to serve on a committee to resolve long-standing management problems at what was then called the Benin Electric Energy and Water Corporation (SBEE). In May 2007, the president appointed him as Director of the reorganized Benin Water Corporation (SONEB),where he remained until his current appointment. As Minister of Finance, he and Mr. Pascal Irene Koupaki, Minister of State in charge of the Economy, Economic Forecasting, Development, and the Evaluation of Public Action, assume the responsibilities previously handled by the Ministry for Development, Economy, and Finance. Like Minister of State Koupaki, Mr. Lawani has the reputation of being a stickler for following rules and regulations and having no tolerance for corruption or incompetence. At his first meeting with Ministry staff, he declared that he would work toward improving the financial administration of the nation through the modernization and reform of the civil service and the judicious utilization of financial resources. He is 53 years old. MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AFRICAN INTEGRATION, FRANCOPHONIE AND THE BENINESE DIASPORA -------------- ¶3. Dr. Moussa Okanla holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Michigan and for many years taught International Relations and International Law at the University of Abomey Calavi in Benin. Among his areas of expertise are international development, the foreign policy of the United States, and disarmament. He has on several occasions been a guest speaker at programs conducted by the Embassy's Public Affairs Section on the subject of the American electoral system. In his first public speech after his appointment, the new Minister pledged that during his tenure he would focus on the following priorities: the strengthening of the relationship with donors, the upgrading and improvement of Benin's overseas diplomatic representation, and the building of new partnerships with foreign countries through the expansion of Benin's diplomatic missions overseas. He is 57 years old. MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND PUBLIC SECURITY -------------- ¶4. Mr. Flix Hessou is a Brigadier General who received military training in France, Russia, and the United States. He also holds a four-year university degree in sociology and anthropology from the National University of Benin. Prior to his appointment, he was the Chief of Staff to the Minister of National Defense. He is an alumnus of the African Center for Strategic Studies program. He has the reputation of being calm and approachable. In his first public speech, he emphasized his commitment to crack down on violent crime. He is 54 years old. MINISTER OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISE -------------- ¶5. Mr. Grgoire Akofodji, whose background is in the private sector textile industry, is not well known to the public. He graduated from the Advanced School of Business in Cote d'Ivoire and also received training in France and England before returning to Benin in the early 1980's. He worked for a French company based in the West African region (CFAO),and for the Benin Textiles Manufacturing Company (SOBETEX). For the last ten years, he has owned and managed his own textile business. During his first address to Ministry staff, he pledged that he would address issues relating to related to Benin's parastatals, including the gas company (SONACOP) and brewery (SOBEBRA). He belongs to the same Assembly of God Christian church as President Yayi, and is 51 years old. THE KEEPER OF THE SEALS, MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGISLATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS COTONOU 00000494 002.2 OF 003 -------------- ¶6. Mr. Gustave Anani Cassa is a lawyer by profession. Prior to his appointment, he was a partner and colleague of prominent attorney Mr. Robert Dossou, who was formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Nicephore Soglo and a key player in President Yayi's election. It is believed that Mr. Dossou, as well as other political leaders from the southwest region of Mono, endorsed Mr. Cassa for this appointment. This is Mr. Cassa's first governmental position. MINISTER OF MINES, ENERGY AND WATER -------------- ¶7. Mr. Sacca Lafia is a veterinarian by profession. He is the leader of the political party "Union for Democracy and Solidarity" (UDS). He was elected deputy of the National Assembly in 1999 and 2003 as a candidate of this party. He was among the first politicians to ally with President Yayi, and in 2007 he was elected to the National Assembly under the auspices of President Boni Yayi's political alliance, the "Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin," (FCBE). He was a fierce opponent of FORMER President Mathieu Kerekou, and has earned the respect of the Beninese electorate as a politician who has remained true to his principles. In 2002, he participated in a USG-sponsored International Visitor Program on the subject of conflict resolution. In the speech he made upon taking office, he declared that he would make it a priority to solve the problem of power outages which plague Benin and increase access to safe drinking water. He is 55 years old. MINISTER OF FAMILY AND CHILD -------------- ¶8. Ms. Clmence Yimbr Dansou is a career magistrate. She served as Prosecuting Attorney at the Supreme Court of Cotonou. Prior to this, she was Judge and President of the Labor Court of Cotonou, Counselor at the Court of Appeals, and Director for Penal Affairs. She has also held the positions of Legal Advisor to the Ministry of National Defense and Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Cotonou Court of Appeal. She is the wife of Felix Essou Dansou, FORMER Minister of Energy, Mines, and Hydraulics in the government of Mathieu Kerekou. During a handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Family and Health, she stated that she would be responsive to the concerns of the poor and would help them become true partners in Benin's economic development. MINISTER OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, LITERACY AND NATIONAL LANGUAGES -------------- ¶9. Dr. Christine Ouensavi holds a doctorate in agronomy and has published many articles on the subject. From 2001 to 2006 she taught agronomy at the University of Parakou's School of Agronomy. She received the 2007 UNESCO Female Scientist Prize for her work on the use of agriculture to generate a stable income for people living in rural areas in Benin. At 32 years of age, she is the youngest minister ever appointed since Benin's democratic transition of 1990. In her first speech, she emphasized the importance of education for the future of Benin, and how educated people can bring about the type of positive social and political changes envisioned by President Yayi. MINISTER OF HEALTH -------------- ¶10. Dr. Kessile Tchala, from the Ouake region in northwestern Benin, is a urologist formerly resident in France. He is a close personal friend of President Yayi, and one of the so-called "Twelve Apostles" who were instrumental in helping President Yayi win election. During his investiture ceremony, he pledged that he would do his best to improve and modernize Benin's health care system. He is expected to actively encourage Beninese medical doctors working in France to return to Benin as a partial solution to the country's chronic shortage of physicians. MINISTER DELEGATE FOR PUBLIC WORKS IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC -------------- ¶11. Mr. Armand Zinzindohou is a civil engineer. He was the FORMER Director of Environmental Affairs for the departments of Oueme and Plateau. Prior to his appointment, he was serving as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Transportation and Public Works. At his first COTONOU 00000494 003.2 OF 003 public speech upon taking office, Mr. Zinzindohou said that he would continue the work of his predecessor and would scrupulously follow his professional code of ethics. WAGONER