CABINET RESHUFFLE IN BURKINA FASO: SIX MINISTERS MOVED;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OUAGADOUGOU 000817 DEPT FOR INR SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM UV SUBJECT: CABINET RESHUFFLE IN BURKINA FASO: SIX MINISTERS MOVED; FOUR NEW OUAGADOUGO 00000817 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) On September 3, Prime Minister Tertius Zongo announced a new cabinet. The shake-up follows the recent appointment of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Djibrill Bassole, as AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur. Bassole's departure led to the repositioning of six ministers and the addition of four new ministers, who were promoted from various government positions. This new cabinet marks Prime Minster Zongo's third cabinet since he assumed office on June 10, 2007. ¶2. (U) The most notable change moves Minister of Health Bedouma Alain Yoda to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation. Seydou Bouda (ex Minister of Civil Service and State Reform) will take Yoda's former position as Minister of Health. Yoda's promotion surprised many, since he has already served in the cabinet for 12 years and has relatively little foreign policy experience. Another notable change is the addition of one female deputy minister. Marie Therese Drabo/Keita was named Deputy Minister in charge of Budget as a reward for her excellent performance as the Executive Secretary of Good Governance. This resulted in a total of seven females in the ministerial cabinet. Overall, the composition of the new cabinet surprised many Burkinabe, who predicted that the total number of ministries would be cut to save money. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The new cabinet composition is illustrative of President Compaore's confidence in Zongo's government, as most of its members remained intact. In addition, the increase in women demonstrates Compaore's commitment to the promotion of female leadership. However, key ministers for USG cooperation - Foreign Affairs, Security, and Health - are relative unknowns or have little experience in their new functional areas. End comment. ¶4. (U) The new cabinet is as follows: - Prime Minister - Tertius Zongo (no change) - Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation - Bedouma Alain Yoda (ex Minister of Health) - Agriculture, Water and Fisheries - Laurent Sedogo (no change) - Economy and Finance - Lucien Marie Noel Bembamba (ex Deputy Minister in charge of Budget) - Justice and Keeper of the Seal - Zakalia Kote (no change) - Defense - Yero Boly (no change) - Health - Seydou Bouda (ex Minister of Civil Service and State Reform) - Transportation - Gilbert N. Ouedraogo (no change- President of ADF/RDA) - Territorial Administration/Decentralization - Clement Pegdwende Sawadogo (no change) - Infrastructure - Seydou Kabore (ex director of FASO BAARA, a local construction company) - Mines and Energy - Abdoulaye Abdoulkader Cisse (no change) - Culture, Tourism and Communication, and Government Spokesman - Filippe Sawadogo (no change) - Security - Emile Ouedraogo (ex director of Military Intelligence; Army Colonel) - Environment and Living Standards - Salifou Sawadogo (no change) - Secondary and Higher Education and Scientific Research - Joseph Pare (no change) - Basic Education and Mass Literacy - Marie Odile Bonkoungou/Balima (no change) - Commerce, Enterprise Promotion and Handicraft - Mamadou Sanou (no change) - Civil Service and State Reform - Soungalo Ouattara (ex Deputy Minister in Charge of Local Collectivities) - Labor and Social Security - Jerome Bougouma (no change) - Presidential Missions, Analysis, and Prospective - Gueda Jacques Ouedraogo (no change) - Youth and Employment - Justin Koutaba (no change) - Social Action and National Solidarity - Pascaline Tamini/Bihoun (no change) - Animal Resources - Sekou Ba (no change) - Human Rights - Salamata Sawadogo (no change) - Post, Information and Communications Technologies - Noel Kabore (new - Former SG of the Ministry of Finance) - Promotion of Women - Celine M. Yoda/Konkobo (no change) - Housing and Urbanization - Vincent T. Dabilougou (no change) - Sports and Leisure - Jean-Pierre A. M. Palm (no change) - Parliamentary Relations - Cecile Beloum/Ouedraogo (no change) - Deputy Minister in charge of Budget - Marie Therese Drabo/Keita (ex Executive Secretary of good Governance) - Deputy Minister in Charge of Regional Cooperation - Minata Samate/Cessouma (no change) - Deputy Minister in Charge of Local Collectivities - Toussaint Abel Coulibaly (ex 4th National Assembly Vice-President OUAGADOUGO 00000817 002.2 OF 002 and President of the presidential alliance - UPR Party) - Deputy Minister in Charge of Agriculture - Abdoulaye Combary (new) - Deputy Minister in Charge of Mass Literacy and Non Formal Education - Ousseini Tamboura (no change) - Deputy Minister in Charge of Technical Education and Vocational Training - Maxime Some (no change). ¶5. (U) Biographies of new ministers will follow via septel. JACKSON