NEW CABINET ANNOUNCED

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000142

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: NEW CABINET ANNOUNCED



1. (U) Summary. Ministerial appointments by DRC President
Joseph Kabila and Prime Minister-designate Antoine Gizenga
were announced the evening of February 5. The new cabinet
will be very large, with a total of 60 members. While some
of the new ministers represent the established Congolese
political class, many of the appointees are relatively
unknown. End summary.


2. (U) The February 5 announcement of the new Congolese
cabinet, including six Ministers of State, 34 Ministers, and
20 Vice Ministers, has ended weeks of speculation and
negotiation. A complete list of appointees is being sent
septel.


3. (U) Nine members of the new cabinet are women. Thirteen
members are from Bandundu, where Gizenga's PALU party is
strongest. Katanga, Maniema, Equateur, and Bas-Congo
provinces are each represented by eight members.

Ministers of State
--------------


4. (U) The six Ministers of State, a group of senior
ministers, include Mobutu Nzanga, Agriculture; Denis Kalume,
Interior, Decentralization and Security; Mbusa Nyamwisi,
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sylvain Ngabu,
Higher Education; Pierre Lumbi, Infrastructure, Public Works
and Reconstruction; and Nkulu Mitumba Kilombo, Minister of
State in the Presidency.

Ministers
--------------


5. (U) Appointees in some key ministries include: Chikez
Diemu, Defense; Georges Minsay, Justice; Athanase Matenda,
Finance; Adolphe Muzito, Budget; Martin Kabwelulu, Mines;
Victor Makwenge, Health; and Olivier Kamitatu, Plan.


6. (U) Gizenga must now present his program to the National
Assembly for review and approval. Until that time,
transitional ministers will continue to exercise their
functions.

Non-Appointees
--------------


7. (U) Some prominent figures not among cabinet appointees
include former Security Adviser Samba Kaputo, ex-Vice
President Azarias Ruberwa, former Interior Minister Theophile
Mbemba, and Former North Kivu Governor Eugene Serufuli.
Noteworthy is that Ruberwa's RCD will not be a part of the
new government.

Comment
--------------


8. (SBU) The appointments have put the spotlight on many
relatively unknown figures, particularly from Gizenga's PALU.
Negotiations to form the cabinet were by all accounts
complicated and contentious, and even with a very large
cabinet of 60, there will inevitably be scores of
disappointed office-seekers from Kabila's AMP coalition.
Forthcoming announcements of Presidency staff and parastatal
heads will therefore be all the more eagerly anticipated.
End comment.
MEECE