GOBF APPOINTS NEW MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS;

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000261

SIPDIS

DAKAR FOR FAS and FCS
DEPT ALSO FOR INR
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR EAGR EFIN KDEM UV
SUBJECT: GOBF APPOINTS NEW MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS;
REPOSITIONS OTHERS FOLLOWING REMOVAL OF POWERFUL MINISTER OF
AGRICULTURE

REF: OUAGADOUGOU 237


1. (U) On March 23, Prime Minister Tertius Zongo adjusted his
cabinet, starting with the removal from the Government of powerful
Minister of Agriculture and Minister of State Salif Diallo, and
ending with an addition to government of one newcomer (reftel). The
former Minister of Environment, Laurent Sedogo, has become the new
Minister of Agriculture, while Salif Sawadogo, who was the Minister
of Parliamentary Relations, will take Sedgo's position as the new
Minister of Environment. Cecile Beloum, a loyal member of the
Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party, former deputy at
the National Assembly, and former aide to Salif Diallo, has been
named as the new Minister of Parliamentary Relations. There are now
six female ministers out of the 34 total.


2. (SBU) According to the MBEJUS (Burkinabe Movement for the
Emergence of Social Justice),a local NGO, President Compaore
selected Beloum as a parting nod to Diallo for his past efforts in
support of Compaore's regime. Beloum served as Diallo's political
aide in Yatenga Province in the north central part of the country,
during elections when Diallo was the regional CDP commissioner for
the Province (a position that he held at the same time as he served
as Minister of Agriculture). Two other explanations for Beloum's
nomination are that President Compaore was concerned about balancing
the geographical distribution of ministerial portfolios -- Beloum is
from Yatenga Province, the same region as Diallo -- and that he is
committed to promoting female leadership.


3. (SBU) Biography of Cecile Beloum, Minister of Parliamentary
Relations:

-- Minister Beloum was born in 1958 in Naapalgin/Seguenega, Yatenga
Province. She received formal training as a nurse then served as a
CDP Deputy at the National Assembly (elected in 2002 and in 2007 for
5-year terms) as well as the political aide to former Minister of
State and Minister of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries, Salif
Diallo. As a senior nurse in Ouahigouya, she served as director of
Ouahigouya National School of Health from 1992 to 1996. In 1992,
she established an organization called Moral, Material, and
Intellectual Support for Children Association (AMMIE),an
organization that has been working for the economic, social, and
political promotion of women. In addition to this work, AMMIE works
on the issues of HIV/AIDS and literacy of women and children.
Beloum has served as Minister of Parliamentary Relations since March
23, 2008. She is married and has five children. She speaks limited
English.

JACKSON