Senegal: A Cabinet Reshuffle for political revenge

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000584 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL AND INR/AA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS KDEM ECON SG SUBJECT: Senegal: A Cabinet Reshuffle for political revenge ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 30, President Wade appointed Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye as the new Prime Minister. The highlight of the Ndiaye cabinet is the creation of a super Ministry of International Cooperation, Air Transportation, Infrastructure and Land Use tailored for the President's son, Karim Wade. This move is a clear political response to the ruling party's local election defeat. The President also fired 31 advisers and three ministers from his entourage to satisfy the people's demand for a concrete reduction in the cost of government. End Summary. A New Prime Minister -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The new Prime Minister is a 51-year old lawyer and was the Minister of Maritime Economy in the previous cabinet. He is close to President Wade and was his Cabinet Director, a position with inherent power and prestige in the President's inner circle. He has a reputation of being firm but fair. Ironically, two months ago his Chief of Staff told Embassy that they had already cleaned their desks in anticipation of Ndiaye being fired after the March elections as Ndiaye was the only senior leader in the Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS) who had publicly said that he would not follow the President's son Karim, whom he saw as "a kid." Ndiaye is one of the few senior PDS barons who managed to win in his constituency in the local elections. With his appointment Wade solves several problems. Ndiaye has a strong enough character to lead the political charge against an opposition buoyed by its recent victory. His appointment also creates a powerful political figure to regain control of the center of the country, (the Kaolack, Diourbel and Fatick areas); a huge electoral basin lost by the ruling party. Ndiaye is also known as an opponent of Idrissa Seck, and his presence can thus reassure those who fear a Seck return. A Political Combat Group -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The 32 members of this Cabinet are all political heavyweights, who have been tasked with the mission to re-establish the leadership of the ruling party and contain opposition mayors who won the country's major cities. Ultra-hawk Cheikh Tidiane Sy remains a Senior Minister and first in Protocol rank despite his loss in his hometown of Saint-Louis and his rather poor implementation of the PDS's election strategy. His re-appointment as Minister of Interior with enhanced responsibilities for local government leaves no doubt that Wade is gearing up for war with the opposition. Also On April 5, the former Minister of Mines Ousmane Ngom, an old time satrap who knows where all the skeletons are buried and an avowed enemy of Idrissa Seck, made a not so surprise return to his old position. Work in Progress -------------- ¶4. (SBU) This new cabinet is the first chapter in Wade's latest political offensive. Although he made peace with Idrissa Seck, who dissolved his party REWMI, the latter's camp is not represented in the cabinet. But, two days before appointing the new Prime Minister a "miracle" occurred when the High Court of Justice convened to clear Seck of all charges of embezzling funds while he was Prime Minister. Now that he is free from prosecution, Seck told the press that his sole ambition is to become the fourth President of Senegal, and Wade may be the key to that dream becoming reality. Last week, the Council of Ministers also approved a Constitutional amendment to create the position of Vice President. Not Mayor but Co-Prime Minister -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The cabinet reshuffle has created two poles of power within the government as the ministry that the President has given his son makes him an obvious center of gravity in the State. Land Use will give Karim the power to orientate the country's policy in all sectors, as any major construction projects will need his blessing and fit his master plan. It is also a position that will give him power to see what is going on in other ministries and in local governments' projects. Additionally, being in charge of International Cooperation means that both the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy and Finance will have to work closely with him, if not for him, in all major foreign deals involving the State. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The cabinet reshuffle and the firing of some 34 advisers shows that Wade has heard the voters but that he continues to think he knows better. He has once again chosen to focus on politics when people want him to address their basic needs. The Cabinet is still too large and compartmentalized at the expense of efficiency. Although the Senegalese people clearly rejected his plan to have his DAKAR 00000584 002 OF 002 son succeed him, he has used his power to give him the springboard that voters had denied him. The coexistence of a Prime Minister, a Super Minister (Karim),a Vice President and the President of the Republic will create multiple centers of power and in all likelihood generate political conflicts and gridlock. For his part, Karim has two years to rebuild his image and win the hearts of the people if he is to govern in peace in the event he succeeds his father. Bernicat