RAVALOMANANA RESHUFFLES CABINET

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000332 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER PRETORIA FOR USDA CRUSH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID PHUM PINR MA SUBJECT: RAVALOMANANA RESHUFFLES CABINET REF: ANTAN 325 ANTANANARI 00000332 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) President Ravalomanana announced a new cabinet late April 30, naming five new Ministers and minor organizational changes. This second reshuffle in six months was expected after the recent Senate election (REFTEL). The complete new line-up is in Para 6. ¶2. (U) Both Minister of Decentralization Yvan Randriasandratriniony and Minister of Civil Service Jacky Tsiandopy were replaced; each will take their elected seats in the Senate. The former's portfolio was moved under the Prime Minister. The latter was replaced by Abdou Salam, the first Muslim Minister in a Ravalomanana administration. ¶3. (U) The other three Ministers left out of the new cabinet were Minister of Education Benjamin Radavidson, Minister of Transport Julien LaPorte, and Minister of Youth and Sports Patrick Ramiaramanana; each of whom had seen his star fade recently. The new Minister of Education, Stangeline Ralambomanana Andrianarisandy, was most recently a Professor in the Humanities Department at the University of Antananarivo. She holds a Doctorate in Hispanic and Iberian Studies from the Sorbonne in Paris. The new Transport Minister, Pierrot Botozaza, was Director General of the Port of Tamatave and a Deputy in the National Assembly (he will have to resign from both positions to be Minister). The Ministry of Youth and Sports was abolished; likely to be relegated to sub-ministerial status. ¶4. (U) Marius Ratolojanahary will head the new Ministry of Land Reform; replacing him as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock is Armand Fanja Ramanoelina, formerly head of the Agriculture Department at the University of Antananarivo. Also included in the reshuffle decree, Ying Vah Zafilahy will take a new position as Vice Minister for Higher Education. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: The big surprise in the cabinet reshuffle was Agriculture Minister Ratolojanahary being moved from a portfolio where he was quite effective to head up Land Reform. As Secretary General and then Minister of Agriculture, Marius has been one of the Embassy's best partners advancing our rural development objectives. Naming Abdou Salam, a Muslim, to his cabinet, President Ravalomanana appears to have taken the unprecedented step of reaching out to Madagascar's Islamic minority, who comprise about 10 percent of the population. With a series of elections complete and a new team in place, the President will focus on hosting his Madagascar Action Plan Round Table in June. END COMMENT. ¶6. Government of Madagascar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Decentralization - Gen. Charles Rabemananjara (Retained) Minister of Foreign Affairs - Gen. Marcel Ranjeva (Retained) Minister of National Defense - Ms. Cecile Marie-Ange Manorohanta (Retained)) Minister of Justice - Ms. Bakolalao Ramanandraibe Ranaivoarivony (Retained) Minister of Public Works and Meteorology - Roland Randriamampionona (Retained) Minister of National Education and Scientific Research -Stangeline Ralambomanana Andrianarisandy (New) Minister of Finance and Budget - Hajanirina Razafinjatovo (Retained) Minister of Land Reform (New) - Marius Ratolojanahary (Former Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries) Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries - Armand Fanja Ramanoelina (New) Minister of Energy and Mines - Elise Razaka (Retained) Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry - Ivohasina Razafimahefa (Retained) Minister of Environment, Water and Forest - Edmond Harrison ANTANANARI 00000332 002.2 OF 002 Randriarimanana (Retained) Minister of Health and Family Planning - Dr. Jean Louis Robinson (Retained) Minister of Civil Service, Labor and Social Law - Abdou Salam (New: Former SG within the Ministry of Decentralization) Minister of Telecommunications, Posts and Telecommunications - Bruno Andriantavison (Retained) Minister of Transportation - Botozaza Pierrot (New - TIM deputy elected in Toamasina - Former General Director of Tamatave Port) Vice-Minister in charge of Higher Education and Professional Training - Ying Vah Zafilahy (New: Former Director within the Education Ministry) Vice-Minister in charge of social issues and Mother and Children's Health - Marie Perline Rahantanirina (Retained) Secretary of State within the Ministry of Interior in charge of SIPDIS Interior Security - Dsir Rasolofomanana (Retained) SIBLEY