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