NEW CAR COALITION GOVERNMENT - NOTHING NEW, AND NOT A

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGUI 000009 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/C FOR SSARDAR, MASHRAF, SLOPEZ, KWYCOFF; PARIS FOR RKANEDA; LONDON FOR PLORD; YAOUNDE FOR POL/ECON STATE FOR OPS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR ECON EAID CT SUBJECT: NEW CAR COALITION GOVERNMENT - NOTHING NEW, AND NOT A COALITION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The announcement on Monday, January 19, of a new coalition government ended the several weeks of delay in naming the new coalition recommended by December's Inclusive Political Dialogue. The new government, listed below, represents little change from the old and is even less inclusive. Prime Minister Faustin Archange Touadera remains in his position, though the number of members in the new Cabinet jumped from 29 to 32 and the most controversial Ministers such as the Minister of Mines remain in place. The new reshuffle will certainly not placate the political opposition, and it remains to be seen whether a couple token government positions will quell the northwest and northeast rebellions. END SUMMARY THE FEW CHANGES ¶2. (SBU) The CARG agreed in December to a new consensus government, to be created from all of the Dialogue's participants, including the various rebel groupings and political opposition. Nonetheless, the President delayed in naming a new Prime Minister for several weeks, mired in difficult negotiations with the UFVN opposition coalition. The new government, listed below, is not inclusive of all partcipants and represents little change from the old. Prime Minister Faustin Archange Touadera remains in his position, though the number of members in the new Cabinet jumped from 29 to 32, with one promotion for then-Minister of Communications Cyriaque Gonda to the title of Minister of State for Communications. The other Ministers of State, including notoriously corrupt Minister of Mines Sylvain Ndoutingai, remain in their positions, while several other Ministers were shuffled to different portfolios. Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Dieudonne Kombo-Yaya was dropped and replaced by CAR General Antoine Gambi whose previous duties included overseeing the Security Sector reform process, a position he carried out with mediocre reviews from international partners. Justice Minister Thierry Maleyombo lost his position, and was replaced by the former Secretary-General of the Presidency Laurent Ngon-Baba. The President's cousin and previous Water and Forests Minister lost her position, and was replaced by former Finance Minister Emmanuel Bizot. THE UNKNOWNS ¶3. (SBU) Nonetheless, the few departures underline the lack of change in this government, and the few appointments of outsiders and rebel-associated Ministers call into question the coherence of the CARG. The unknown APRD-affiliated Francois Naoyama was selected as Minister for the Environment and Ecology, a much less powerful and redundant Ministry in comparison with that of Water and Forests. Another relative unknown, Mr. Djollo-Djidou of Abacar Sabone's rebel group MLJC, was named as Minister of Housing and Habitats, while the only member of the political opposition on the list, Mr. Andre Nalke-Dorogo of the opposition Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC),was not notified of his impending selection and resigned his new position as Minister of Health on January 21 under pressure from his party. That President Bozize would not notify his nominee for Minister of Health of the impending announcement indicates a random selection process, as well as a paltry qualifications scheme for these positions. NOTHING NEW, AND POSSIBLY WORSE ¶4. (SBU) In short, little has changed in the CARG, and the new government so resembles the old that it hardly counts as anything new. It will certainly not placate the political opposition, though their general unwillingness to compromise and their preparations for the 2010 elections may lead them to accept the government for the moment in hopes of defeating it BANGUI 00000009 002 OF 003 later at the ballot box. As for the rebel groups, a couple token government positions is unlikely to quell the northwest and northeast rebellions. At present, some rebel leaders are touring the northwest in hopes of convincing their troops to drop their arms. That said, recent fighting near Ndele may signal a return to the chaotic groupings and erratic low-scale warfare that has characterized northern CAR for the last five years. ¶5. (U) List of Ministers: Prime Minister - Faustin Archange Touadera Ministers of State Minister of State of Plan, the Economy, and International Cooperation: Sylvain Maliko Minister of State of Transportation: Parfait Mbaye Minister of State for Mines, Energy, and Hydraulics: Lt. Col. Sylvain Ndoutingai Minister of State for Communications, Civics, National Reconciliation, and Follow-Up for the Dialogue: Cyriaque Gonda Ministers Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture: Fidele Gouandjika Minister of Justice: Laurent Gon-Baba Minister of Tourism and Artisanat: Marie-Solange Pagonendji-Ndakala Minister of the General Secretariat of the Government and with Relations with Institutions: Desire Kolingba Minister of Commerce and Industry: Emilie Beatrice Epaye Minister of Water, Forests, Hunting, and Fishing: Emmanuel Bizot Minister of Reconstruction, Public Buildings, and Urbanism: Faustin N'Telnoumbi Minister of Equipment and Linkages (Desenclavement): Cyriaque Samba-Panza Minister of the Public Sector, Labor, Social Security and Youth Training: Gaston Mackouzangba Minister of Social Affaires, National Solidarity, and the Family: Bernadette Sayo Minister of National Education: Ambroise Zawa Minister of the Environment and Ecology: Francois Naoyama Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization: Elie Wefio Minister of National Security and Public Order: General Jules Bernard Ouande Minister of Finance and Budget: Albert Besse Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and the Francophone World: General Antoine Gambi Minister of Public Health, Population, and the Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Andre Nalke-Dorogo Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture: Aurelien Simplice Zingas Minister for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, Informal Sector: Moise Kotaye Minister of Habitats and Lodging: Mr. Djollo-Djidou Deputy Ministers Deputy Minister for Defense: Francis Bozize Deputy Minister for Mines, Energy, and Hydraulics: Jean-Chrysostome Meckondongo Deputy Minister for Plan, the Economy, and International Cooperation: Raymond Adouma Deputy Minister for Finance and Budget: Hassan Abdalla-Kadre Deputy Minister for National Education: Sall Djibrine Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture: Youssoufa Yerima Mandjo Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and BANGUI 00000009 003 OF 003 Francophonie: Ambroisine Kpongo COOK ##