BENIN: PROFILE OF NEW MINISTERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COTONOU 000750 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK LONDON FOR PETER LORD PARIS FOR BKANEDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BN SUBJECT: BENIN: PROFILE OF NEW MINISTERS REF: COTONOU 688 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: This is the second of two cables concerning the second cabinet reshuffling of the Government of Benin (GOB),which took place on October 22. Reftel highlighted major changes in the new government and provided general background information on the reshuffle. This cable provides profiles of the 19 new ministers appointed and a list of those 11 retained. END SUMMARY. -------------- Profiles of the 19 newly appointed ministers -------------- ¶2. (U) Minister of Foreign Affairs African Integration, Francophonie and the Beninese Diaspora Jean-Marie Ehouzou is a career diplomat. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Ehouzou was Benin's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director for Africa and Middle East Affairs, Deputy Director for the Communities from 1993 to 1996 and Director for International Organizations from 2000 to 2003. Before 2003, Mr. Ehouzou served as Ambassador in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti. He also worked as Director for the Coordination of External Resources from 1996 to 2000 at the Ministry of Planning. Mr. Ehouzou was the first Beninese Ambassador appointed to the African Union. Aged 58, the new Foreign Affairs is married and has two children. ¶3. (U) Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, Legislation and Human Rights, Spokesman of the Government After assuming office in 2006, President Yayi appointed Victor Topanou as Legal Adviser in his office and as the Secretary General of the Government. He had led the campaign team for the female candidate Celestine Zannou during the 2006 presidential election. Mr. Topanou is still a public law and political Science professor at the National University of Benin. The new Minister of Justice teaches public law at the University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, as a visiting teacher. From 2000 onwards, Mr. Topanou held the position of Scientific Secretary for the UNESCO's Chair for Human Rights and Democracy at the University of Benin, an academic institution that promotes and provides training in Human Rights in the region. Minister Topanou currently serves on the National Advisory Committee for Human Rights and on the National Follow-up Committee for the application of human rights' international instruments. Topanou attended from 1991 to 1997 the Prestigious French University of Sorbonne where he obtained a doctorate in Political Science. During his tenure as Legal Advisor to President Yayi and Secretary General of the Government, Mr. Topanou maintained good relationships with post. He is 45 years old and married. 4 (U) Minister of Health Issa Takpara, a medical doctor, previously served as professor of gynecology and obstetrics at the National University Teaching Hospital (CNHU). Mr. Takpara was the Special Advisor to President Yayi until his current appointment as Minister of Health. He earned a diploma in endocrinology of human reproduction from the Medical School of Montreal. Born in 1949, Mr. Takpara is regarded as a highly competent medical doctor and one of the best gynecologists in Benin. ¶5. (U) Minister of Family and Solidarity Mamatou Marie Joe Meba Djossou is the new minister of Family and Solidarity. Mrs. Meba Djossou holds a doctorate in Environmental Health and earned a post graduate degree in Sociology-Anthropology. She was previously Technical Advisor for Social and Health Affairs to President Yayi. In 1995, she worked as Accountant Secretary for the Benin Agency for Family Promotion (ABPF) in Borgou, a northern province of Benin. Married, Minister Meba Djossou is 50 years old and has four children. ¶6. (SBU) Minister Delegate for Maritime Economy, Maritime Transport and Port Reforms Prior to his appointment, Issa Badarou was the Technical Advisor for Equipment and Transport to President Yayi. Mr. Badarou is an Economics and Statistics Engineer who graduated from the European Training Center for Economic Statisticians of Developing Countries (CESD) of Paris. The new Minister Delegate for Maritime Economy, Maritime Transport and Port reforms worked as Consultant for the World Bank in 1990 and was elected Vice-President of the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Badarou was recruited by the Port of Cotonou in 1982 and started a long career COTONOU 00000750 002 OF 005 that led to the positions of Head of the Port's statistics and exploitation office, Commercial Director (1988-1991),and Executive Director of the Port (1991-1997),successively. Former president Kerekou fired Badarou in 1997. In 2000, he was arrested and subsequently released on bail over allegations of an illegal investment of CFA 450,000,000 (roughly $9,000,000) in a company based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire and of an illegal award of a public contract for the construction of a hall in the Port. Mr. Badarou is known by the public as a highly competent official who has gained strong experience in port-related issues over the years. In 1998, he opened a Tourist and Entertainment Complex, BYMINS, worth CFA 25,000,000,000 (approximately USD 50,000,000). ¶7. (U) Minister of Petroleum and Mining Research Barthelemy Kassa is a former National Assembly's deputy who was elected from the list of the Union for the Future of Benin (UBF),an alliance of parties and various movements that supported former President Kerekou in the 2001 presidential poll. Later, Mr. Kassa joined Yayi's pro-coalition Front Cowry for the Emergence of Benin (FCBE). Mr. Kassa was a member of the National Independent Electoral Commission Board (CENA) during the 2008 communal and local elections. Agronomist by career, he also earned a postgraduate degree in natural resources management from the National University of Benin. He taught agronomy in Benin's main Agricultural Schools. In 2002, Mr. Kassa served on the National Committee for the elaboration of endangered species conservation strategy (CENAGREF). The new minister of Petroleum and Mining Research conducted in-depth studies on forestry, wildlife, botanic and biosphere. He is 38 years. ¶8. (U) Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature Prior to his current appointment, Justin Adanmayi worked as Deputy Director of Programming and Prospect at the Ministry of Environment. Mr. Adanmayi is a seasoned Water, Forestry and Hunting Engineer who has worked on projects related to environment, biodiversity, and nature conservation in Benin. He studied in the Federal Republic of Germany, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire. Mr. Adanmayi is 50 years old, married, and has 3 children. ¶9. (U) Minister of Secondary Education, Technical and Vocational Training Bernard Lani Davo is a career Economic Analyst. Before this appointment, he was the Deputy Secretary in charge of parliamentary affairs of President Yayi's FCBE. Mr. Davo is the president of the Democratic Party for a New Alliance (PDNA). His party endorsed President Yayi's candidacy in the 2006 presidential election and subsequently rallied to the pro-Yayi FCBE. Mr. Davo was elected deputy to the National Assembly for three successive legislative terms (1995-1999; 1999-2003 and 2003-2007). ¶10. (SBU) Minister of Higher Education and Scienific Research Francois Adebayo Abiola ws a deputy at the National Assembly until his current appointment. Mr. Abiola is a key member of Sefou Fagbohoun's African Movement for Democracy and Progress (MADEP) (Begin note: Sefou Fagbohoun is a political leader and wealthy Beninese businessman who was arrested and detained in 2003 on serious charges of mismanagement and embezzlement from the gas parastatal SONACOP in the case known as the SONACOP affair. He was elected to the National Assembly before his release from prison in June 2008. End Note). As a professor of Veterinary Science, Mr. Abiola is a holder of aggregation in Toxicology from the University of Paris II. He served as Director of the Inter-State School of veterinary in Dakar, Senegal. Mr. Abiola is recipient of highest academic and civilian decorations from the Governments of Benin (Officer of the National Order of Benin in 2002),France (Chancellor of the Agricultural Merit Order in 1986),Senegal (the Order of Knighthood in 1996),of Cameroon (Officer of the Order of Knighthood of Value of Cameroon in 2000),and of Chad (Officer of the Renaissance Order in 1999). The new minister is 58 years old. ¶11. (SBU) Ministry of Labor and Public Service Charles Kint Aguiar is a Commercial Engineer and a high-ranking teacher by career. Previously, Mr. Aguiar was the Administrative Director of the Benin Center of Scientific and Technical Research and the Head of the National Association of Rural Initiatives (ANAR). He served as the National Assembly's Special Envoy for various missions abroad. Until his appointment, the new Minister of Labor and Public Service was the Secretary General of the African Movement for Democracy and Progress- MADEP (see Para 10). Mr. Aguiar led several Beninese delegations to international consultations on education for AIDS prevention. He was also a member of the COTONOU 00000750 003 OF 005 African-Arabic Inter-Parliamentary Union and represented Benin at the 12th World Young Students Festival. Mr. Aguiar was also the President of the Benin's Hand Sport Federation. He is 63 years old. ¶12. (U) Minister of Administrative and Institutional Reform Joseph Ahanhanzo is an expert in educational policy and planning and development project management. Mr. Ahanhanzo graduated from the Benin National School of Administration (ENA) and earned a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Lilles, France. Minister Ahanhanzo has spent 19 years working in ministries in charge of Education where he has held senior positions. He worked also for the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Mr. Ahanhanzo belongs to several national and international associations. In October 2004, he was decorated Chancellor of the Academic Palms Order of France. The new minister is 50 years old. ¶13. (U) Minister of Sports and Leisure Etienne Kossi is a Telecommunication Engineer by career. Prior to joining President Yayi's government, Mr. Kossi was the Services Development and Strategy Adviser at the telecommunications parastatal TELECOMS. He was recruited in 1982 by the then state-owned Telecommunication Company OPT on return to Benin from the Polytechnic Institute of Timisora, in Romania where he graduated in Telecommunication Engineering. From 1982 until his current appointment, Mr. Kossi has held several positions in TELECOMS including head of the Local Network Section, Director of Telecommunication, Technical Advisor, and Director of Telecommunication's Project and Planning. From 1990 to 1994 Mr. Kossi was in charge of supervising the design and implementation of a local phone network to connect the major cities of Benin. Minister Kossi is 52 years old and married. ¶14. (SBU) Minister of Youth, Microfinance and Young People and Women's Employment Reckya Madougou is a Management and Marketing Expert and Consultant by career. Mrs. Madougou earned a diploma in Commercial Engineering and a post graduate degree in International Commerce and International Relations. Her area of expertise covers a wide range of issues including social mobilization, democracy, good governance, project design and monitoring and communication strategies. Until her appointment, Mrs. Madougou was the Executive Director of a Consulting firm that specializes in management and strategy. She served as Commercial and Marketing Director for the Mobile Telecommunication Company Bell Benin and as Director of a Documentation and Information Center for Youth. From 1999 to 2001, Mrs. Madougou worked as project Manager in a French Consulting Firm in Paris. As a social activist, she created an NGO called ELAN that launched in 2006 a nationwide campaign against the amendment of the constitution to extend the presidential mandate. Mrs. Madougou was the President of the Civil Society Organizations for Democratic, Free, Peaceful and Fair Elections (FORS) that played a key role in the smooth running of the 2006 presidential election. (Begin note: Many critics link her appointment by President Yayi to her contribution to the success of these elections. End note). Mrs. Madougou is a former U.S. Women of Courage nominee and a former 2006 International Visitor Program alumna. The new minister has received the International Prize of the best African Women, the Best Social Awards, the Ten Outstanding Young People awards, the Best Initiative and Courage in Public Action, and others. Mrs. Madougou is 33 years old and has one child. ¶15. (U) Minister of Handcraft Industry and Tourism Prior to joining President Yayi's government, Mamata Bako Djaouga was the Executive Director of the Benin's National Lottery Company (LNB). She is the current President of the Association of African Lottery Companies. Mrs. Djaouga is a holder of a master degree in Business Administration from the University of Paris IX Dauphine and a postgraduate degree in Public Enterprises Law. She also earned a postgraduate degree in Development Cooperation from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium. From 1994 to November 2001, Mrs. Djaouga was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Civil Service and served on the Benin High Authority for Electrical Communication. Muslim by birth, Mrs. Djaouga changed religion and became an Evangelist Christian. Born in 1957, the new minister is married and has four children. ¶16. (U) Minister of Decentralization, Local Governance and Territorial Management. Until his current appointment, Allassane Seidou was a National Assembly's deputy who ran as an alternate candidate in the March COTONOU 00000750 004 OF 005 2007 legislative election under the auspices of the FCBE. Mr. Seidou joined the National Assembly as the substitute for Jerome Sacca Kina who died in the course of his mandate. He served on the Commission on External Relations, Development Cooperation, Defense and Security at the National Assembly. Before his election, Mr. Seidou was the mayor of Kandi, a city in the northeast of Benin. Born in 1958, Minister Seidou is a medical doctor by career. He is married and has five children. ¶17. (U) Minister in charge of the Relations with the Institutions Zakari Baba Body, the new Minister in Charge of the Relations with the Institutions was called to the bar in 1997. He teaches at the National School of Administration and Magistrates (ENAM),his alma mater. Earlier, Mr. Baba Body served as Assistant to the Director of Labor and Manpower at the Ministry of Labor. He obtained several law degrees from the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) and received trainings on international labor standards. Born in 1962, the new minister is married and has one child. ¶18. (U) Minister-Delegate for Ground Transportation, Air Transportation and Public Work in the Office of the President of the Republic Nicaise Fagnon was the Executive Director of the former Cotton Parastatal company (SONAPRA) and Technical Adviser for Economic Affairs to President Yayi until his current appointment. Mr. Fagnon worked at the West African Development Bank (BOAD) in Lome, Republic of Togo, where he successively held the positions of Financial Analyst and officer in charge of the programming and the financial management of this bank. Earlier, he served as Senior Banking Executive in a local branch of a Nigerian private-owned bank in Cotonou (BOA). Minister Fagnon is married and has four children. ¶19. (U) Minister of Nursery and Primary Education The Minister Chabi Felicien Zacharie was the Executive Director of the General Treasury and Public Accounting Office at the Ministry of Finance until his current appointment. Mr. Zacharie entered the civil service in 1981 after he completed economic studies at the National University of Benin. His career began at the then Ministry of Transport and Equipment where he has held senior positions. Minister Zacharie is 53 years old, married and has 3 children. ¶20. (U) Minister in charge of Small and Medium Scale Businesses and the Promotion of the Private Sector Leandre Houaga used to be the Technical Assistant to the Minister of Secondary Education. He was the former Executive Director of an Import-Export Company (SOGECIS-SARL). Mr. Houaga campaigned for pro-Yayi FCBE candidates during the April and May 2008 municipal elections. He is married and has three children. -------------- Retained Ministers -------------- ¶2. (U) The following 11 ministers have been retained, with 5 changes in the ministerial portfolios and ministries denominations: - Mr. Pascal Irene Koupaki, Minister of State in charge of Economic Forecasting, Development and Public Action Evaluation; - Mr. Issifou Kogui N'Douro, Minister of State in charge of National Defense; - Mr. Armand Zinzindohou, Ministry of Interior and Public Security (Former Minister Delegate for Transport and Public Works in the Office of the President of the Republic); - Mr. Roger Dovonou, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishing; - Mr. Soule Mana Lawani, Minister of Economy and Finance; - Mrs. Christine Ouensavi, Minister of Commerce(Former Minister of Primary Education); - Mr. Sacca Lafia, Minister of Energy and Water; - Mr. Galiou Soglo, Minister of Culture, Literacy and Local Language Promotion (Former Minister of Youth, Sports and Leisure); - Mr. Desire Adadja, Minister Delegate for Communication and Information Technology in the Office of the President of the Republic; - Mr. Francois Gbenoukpo Noudegbessi, Minister of Urban Development, Housing, Land Reform and Coastal Erosion Fight. - Mr. Gregoire Akofodji, Minister of Industry (Former Minister of Industry, Commerce and Small and Medium Scale Businesses). 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