Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA95
2009-03-23 11:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
CABINET RESHUFFLE BRINGS LITTLE NEW BLOOD
how-toR 231152Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0222 INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE NSC WASHDC CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ CIA WASHDC DIA WASHDC JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL SECDEF WASHDC COMUSNAVCENT HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000095
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV ER
SUBJECT: CABINET RESHUFFLE BRINGS LITTLE NEW BLOOD
Classified By: CDA M. Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000095
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV ER
SUBJECT: CABINET RESHUFFLE BRINGS LITTLE NEW BLOOD
Classified By: CDA M. Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4(d)
¶1. (U) After weeks of rumor and speculation, the GSE
announced eight Cabinet changes. The new ministers and their
portfolios, with predecessors in parentheses, are:
Woldemichael Gebremariam, Local Government (unfilled since
2003)
Tesfai Gebreselasie, Land, Water and Environment
(Woldemichael Gebremariam)
Saleh Meki, Fisheries (Ahmed Haj Ali)
Ahmed Haj Ali, Energy and Mines (Tesfai Gebreselasie)
Askalu Menkerios, Tourism (Amina Nurhusein)
Amina Nurhusein, Health (Saleh Meky)
Giorgis Teklemichael, National Development (Woldai Futur)
Salma Hassen, Labour and Human Welfare (Askalu Menkerios)
¶2. (C) Comment: For more than two weeks the Asmara grapevine
and opposition websites have been alive with reports of the
upcoming reorganization, many of them fairly accurate in the
end. We were most certain about Saleh Meky's (an Amcit) move
to the ministry of fisheries, since he had come to U.S.-based
NGO Physicians for Peace to say goodbye and announce his
successor. This particular move raises questions about the
future of Physicians for Peace and other U.S. cooperation in
the health sector. While the new health minister, Amina
Nurhusein, an EPLF nurse during the independence struggle, is
not known to be anti-American, she is diffident, at pains to
meet with anyone, and accomplished little at the ministry of
tourism. Woldemichael Gebremariam's transfer to Local
Government is seen as a move to freeze him out. Salma
Hassen, formerly the administrator of the Anseba Zone, is the
only new face in this Cabinet reshuffle. The key ministeries
of foreign affairs, finance, information, and defense are so
far untouched, but on March 16 the opposition website
assenna.com reported a major shake-up in the defense ministry
was brewing, with Minister Sebhat Efrem going over to the
PFDJ as secretary general and Major General Teklai
Habteselassie becoming the new defense minister.
TABLER-STONE