SEVEN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ALUMNI IN NEW CABINET

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000242 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO CG SUBJECT: SEVEN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ALUMNI IN NEW CABINET ¶1. (U) Seven former International Visitors hold portfolios in the 60-member, coalition-based government which took office on February ¶24. ¶A. Olivier Kamitatu Etsu, Minister of Plan, is an alumnus of an FY97 International Visitor program. Kamitatu is president of the Alliance for the Renewal of the Congo (ARC) political party and a spokesman for the pro-Kabila Alliance of the Presidential Majority (AMP). He was president of the transitional national assembly until early 2006 and formerly a key member of Jean-Pierre Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo. ¶B. Simon Mboso Kiamputu, Minister of Industry, is a career businessman who participated in the 'U.S. Economic System' IV program in FY91. He also served as a government economic advisor during the Mobutu era. ¶C. Charles Mwando Nsimba, Minister of Rural Development, is an alumnus of an FY86 program on decentralization. He was a member of the transitional parliament and held several ministerial portfolios under Mobutu. ¶D. Marie-Ange Lukiana Mufwankolo, Minister of Labor and Social Security, is an alumna of 'Women and Political Process' (FY91). She is a former civil society activist and the current deputy secretary-general of the pro-Kabila People's Party for SIPDIS Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD),the majority party in parliament, which she co-founded. ¶E. Laurent-Simon Ikenge Lisambola, Minister of Urban Planning and Housing, is an alumnus of 'Protection and Promotion of Human Rights' (FY05). Mr. Ikenge is the coordinator of Civil Society in Orientale province. ¶F. Eugene Lokwa Ilwaloma, Minister of Human Rights, is an alumnus of 'General Education' (FY73). A lawyer, he was formerly a deputy dean of the University of Kinshasa and director of the Institut Pedagogique National (national teachers' college) in Kinshasa. ¶G. Colette Tshomba Ntundu, Vice-Minister in charge of the Congolese Overseas, is an alumna of 'Role of the Media in the U.S.' (FY04). Ms. Tshomba is a career journalist who is the owner and editor of a pro-Kabila daily called 'Uhuru'. She formerly worked for the government-owned Congolese National Radio and Television. A member of the transitional parliament, she also won a seat in the post-election national assembly representing Kamitatu's ARC party. MEECE