MADAGASCAR'S TRANSITION CABINET PARTIALLY FORMED

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000283 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E-MBEYZEROV, INR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MA SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR'S TRANSITION CABINET PARTIALLY FORMED REF: A) 09 ANTANANARIVO 267 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Madagascar's transition cabinet remains incomplete, with only 12 ministers named (out of a planned 25),and the critical post of Minister of Defense still empty. Transition President Andry Rajoelina remains evasive on further appointments, and will likely wait until the full cabinet is assembled before announcing other key positions at the Ministries of Health, Labor, Energy/Mining, Transportation, and others. Of the current 12 ministers, 6 come from the highland Merina or Betsileo ethnic groups; creating better ethnic balance could be a factor as TGV fills out the rest of his cabinet. Following are brief biographical notes on the 12 current ministers. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Rajoelina confirmed the first group of 12 ministers on March 17, the day of the coup, in Decree 2009/002. This act made official the cabinet he had announced in February on Place du 13 Mai during the demonstrations. The only discrepancy was his pick for Minister of Defense, General Raonenantsoamampianina, who was deemed unacceptable by the newly-empowered military, fresh from its mutiny only ten days prior. At present, it appears that the military is maintaining its veto power over any nominees for the position. ¶3. (SBU) Prime Minister: Mr. Roindefo Zafitsimivalo MONJA, from political party MONIMA, based in Tulear. He is the son of the late Jaona Monja, a well-known national figure from the 1971 uprising, and was one of Rajoelina's negotiators during the failed talks in February. His nomination as Prime Minister was a surprise for many, as he did not have the national profile of some of Rajoelina's other allies. His nomination was well received in Monja's native Tulear, and other southern regions of the country. Monja also occupies the position of Minister of Defense, pending the appointment of a permanent replacement. He reportedly studied in France and the United States, and speaks English, German, Russian, and Spanish in addition to Malagasy and French. Monja is from the Antandroy ethnic group, dominant in Tulear. ¶4. (SBU) Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO, son of prominent political figure (former President of the National Assembly) Pastor Richard Andriamanjato, from political party AKFM-Fanavaozana. He previously served as Minister of Post and Telecommunications under Ratsiraka from 1993 to 2002, as well as General Coordinator in charge of Administrative, Financial, Economic, Infrastructure and Town Planning Affairs in the Commune of Antananarivo under Rajoelina. He was also one of Andry Rajoelina's negotiators during the UN-led talks, and a close advisor throughout this crisis. He was the first "HAT official" to take a trip abroad to participate in the Permanent Council of the Francophonie, during which he advocated for Madagascar and the High Transition Authority. Andriamanjato speaks English and Russian as foreign languages, and studied in Moscow for several years in the 1980's. Andriamanjato is from the Merina ethnic group, as are HAT President Rajoelina and former President Ravalomanana. ¶5. (SBU) Minister of Finance and Budget: Mr. Benja Joas RAZAFIMAHALEO, elder brother of late politician and economist Herizo Razafimahaleo, from the Leader-Fanilo party. He is better known in the business community than in politics, as the former General Manager of SACIMEM, a tobacco company. Among his first acts as Minister were announcements concerning Tiko's alleged outstanding debt to the Malagasy treasury of 1.2 trillion ariary (USD 600 million) in unpaid taxes and customs duties, and the future sale of the controversial presidential aircraft "Force One II". Razafimahaleo is from the Betsileo ethnic group, dominant in Fianarantsoa and the southern highlands. ¶6. (SBU) Minister of Commerce and Industry: Mr. Jean Claude RAKOTONIRINA, former independent Deputy in the National Assembly from Vohipeno (in the southeast),and president of the Parliamentary Group for Democracy and Development (GPDD). He has notably declared that state subsidies on such basic goods as oil and rice are just temporary measures taken to alleviate the current high cost of living, but has failed to address concerns about the sustainability of these measures and their effects on local markets. Rakotonirina is from either the Antesaka or Antefasy ethnic group, dominant in the southeast near Farafangana. ¶7. (SBU) Minister of Justice: Ms. Christine Harijaona RAZANAMAHASOA is the former President of the Tulear Court of Appeals, and a member of the High Council of the Magistracy. She coordinated the controversial release of 48 alleged "political" prisoners (reftel A). Among her first promises as minister is the creation of a High Court of Justice, able to judge high officials including the President of the Republic. She was among the members of the High Magistracy Council to announce an arrest warrant against President Ravalomanana and other members of his government, although no actual warrant has been produced to date. Razanamahasoa is from Tulear. ¶8. (SBU) Minister of Environment, Water and Forests: Mr. Mariot Jean Florent RAKOTOVAO is a former senior staffer at Sherritt, a Canadian mining operation near Tamatave. His first official act was the celebration of World Water Day on March 22, during which he announced the imminent inauguration of 100 public fountains to improve access to drinkable water. This ministry was previously combined with tourism, which has now become a separate entity (see paragraph 11); the "water" portfolio has rejoined environment and forests after being separated into its own ministry in 2008. Rakotovao is from the Besimisaraka ethnic group, dominant on the east coast near Tamatave. ¶9. (SBU) Minister of Internal Security: Mr. Remy Sylvain Organes RAKOTOMIHANTARIZAKA was previously a General Controller in the National Police. He is also a former Deputy from Tulear Province, and a TIM party Senator, appointed by President Ravalomanana. He was instrumental to the TGV movement when they invaded ministries in February, and served as the TGV negotiator to the security forces and ministry officials. Rakotomihantarizaka is from the Betsileo ethnic group. ¶10. (SBU) Minister of National Education: Mr. Julien RAZAFIMANAZATO is from the Malagasy Diaspora in France and a member of TGV Europe. He is the president of the Association for the Interest and Defense of Madagascar's National Unity, based in France. This association is thought to be close to political exile Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, and was part of his diaspora support committee during Rajaonarivelo's presidential bid (from abroad) in 2006. He was among the first TGV ministers - before the coup - to make official visits to the provinces. His first act as minister was and remains controversial: to announce that French will be the language of instruction nationwide instead of Malagasy, and to put planned Ravalomanana's educational reform on hold. This decision has endangered a sizable World Bank education program, also supported by other donors, and Razafimanazato may have to reconsider in the face of expected severe budget shortfalls. Razafimanazato is from is from a coastal ethnic group. ¶11. (SBU) Minister of Tourism: Mr. Gilbert Harisoa RAHARIZATOVO is a former Deputy of Antananarivo VI, former chief editor and political columnist of national media outlets TVM and RNM, and former director of TVM. Raharizatovo is from the Merina ethnic group. ¶12. (SBU) Minister of Town Planning and Decentralization: Hajo Herivelona ANDRIANAINARIVELO is a former two-term independent mayor from the Commune of Ankadinandriana (30km north of Tana). The Commune of Ankadinandriana became a model commune after completing its "Communal Development Plan" in 2002, garnishing praise from the international community present at the time. His first statement as Minister implied that there cannot be effective decentralization in Madagascar without a clear land titling and ownership policy. Andrianainarivelo is from the Merina ethnic group. ¶13. (SBU) Minister of the Interior and Administrative Reform: Mr. Masimana MANANTSOA, formerly chief of staff in the same ministry. He was also president of the Orientation Committee of the Libanona Ecological Center, and director of the "Civil Protection Unit" at the Ministry of the Interior. Manantsoa is from Tulear. ¶14. (SBU) Minister of Post, Telecommunications and New Technology Development: Mr. Augustin Razafinarivo ANDRIAMANANORO, previously the spokesman of TGV Europe and an active member of the Malagasy diaspora in France. He is a "new information technology" expert, and co-founder of popular France-based Malagasy website Madagate.com. He is also a partner of French technology company Osmosis Business Solutions (OBS),which has an affiliate in Antananarivo. He now serves as the spokesperson of the HAT government, after serving as a technical advisor to then-Mayor Andry Rajoelina in 2008. Andriamananoro is from the Merina ethnic group. MARQUARDT