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.


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Profiles of the 19 newly appointed ministers
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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

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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

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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

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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.


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Retained Ministers
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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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