BENIN: PROFILES OF NEW MINISTERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000508

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W (D. BANKS)
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PROFILES OF NEW MINISTERS

REF: A) Cotonou 494; B) Cotonou 440

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1. This is the third in a series of telegrams concerning the newly
formed government of President Boni Yayi. Reftel B provided a list
of ministers. Reftel A provided profiles of ten new ministers who,
along with returning Minister of State in Charge of National Defense
N'Douro and Minister of State in Charge of the Economy Koupaki, will
be the key interlocutors for the Embassy and USG on policy and
program issues in our bilateral relations. This telegram provides
profiles of the remaining seven new ministers of the Government of
Benin.


MINISTER OF DECENTRALIZATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY AND PLANNING
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2. Mr. Issa Dmonl Moko is a high ranking civil servant. He served
as Prefect of the Department of Mono. Prior to his appointment, he
was the Director of the Local Authorities Office (Maison des
Collectivits Locales). He is one of the Benin's recognized experts
on governmental decentralization issues.

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
--------------


3. Ms. Vicentia Bocco is the former Director of President Yayi's
electoral campaign and is considered to be one of his close
protgs. By profession, she is a radiologist, and is considered to
be one of the best radiologists in Benin. Prior to her appointment,
she was serving as Chief of Staff in the office of President Yayi.
In her first speech, she called for cooperation from the government,
the educational sector, and the private sector to advance Benin's
economy and social development.

MINISTER OF SECONDARY EDUCATION TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
--------------



4. Ms. Bernadette Sohoudji Agbossou is a graduate of the University
of Montreal in Canada. Prior to her appointment, she taught at the
National School for Administration and Magistrates of the University
of Abomey Calavi. During a handover ceremony held at the Minister of
Education, she said that she would build upon the successes of her
predecessor.

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTION OF NATURE
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5. Ms. Juliette Biaou Koudnoukpo is a forestry and water resources
engineer by profession. Prior to her appointment, she worked on the
Land and Natural Resources Management Program in Cotonou and as a
Program Officer at the office of the World Conservation Union (UICN)
in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. As a newcomer to politics, she is not
well known to the public, but is respected for her technical
expertise.


MINISTER-DELEGATE FOR COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
--------------


6. Mr. Dsir Adadja has a degree in engineering from the
Polytechnic School of Montreal, Canada. His specialty is
telecommunications, and he was formerly manager of the Regional
African Satellite Communications (RASCOM) project that has as its
goal the establishment of a satellite communications system for
Africa. He also served as Telecommunications and New Technology
advisor to President Yayi. Prior to his current appointment, he was
the Director of the Benin's telecommunications parastatal, Bnin
Telecoms. In his first speech, he noted that the Ministry of
Communication and Information Technology has initiated several
complex and important projects, and also expressed his commitment to
combating fraud and illegal activities in the telecommunications
sector.


MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE RELATIONS WITH INSTITUTIONS, SPOKESMAN OF
THE OVERNMENT
--------------


7. Dr. Alexadre Houtondji is a medical doctor by profession, ad
has served as Director of Public Health for th Department of
Atlantique and Littoral. He was oe of the founding members of
President Yayi's poltical alliance "Cowrie Force for an Emerging
Benn" (FCBE),and served as the spokesman for this grup. As such,

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he frequently appeared on Beninese television and radio explaining
and defending the President's position on various issues. In 2006,
he also served for a time as President Yayi's Chief of Staff.

MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND LEISURE
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8. Mr. Ganiou Soglo was born on January 4, 1961 in Paris, and is the
youngest son of former President Nicephore Soglo. He is a business
executive and was elected twice as deputy of the National Assembly
as a candidate of the political party Renaissance du Bnin (RB),the
political party of his father. He ran unsuccessfully for President
in the March 2006 election. His appointment was somewhat
controversial within the RB, as some resented that fact that former
President Soglo proposed his son for this position rather than other
candidates some believed were more qualified. He is known to have a
passion for soccer, having managed a local soccer team for years. In
his first speech, he emphasized the importance of sports and youth
activities, and asked for the support of all of Benin's citizens.

WAGONER