GODJ LOOKS BACK ON SEVEN YEARS OF ACTION; FIELDS CITIZEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000549

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI ECON PHUM DJ
SUBJECT: GODJ LOOKS BACK ON SEVEN YEARS OF ACTION; FIELDS CITIZEN
QUESTIONS

DJIBOUTI 00000549 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) SUMMARY. During a weeklong, televised "National Seminar
of Reflection on Government Action," President Guelleh and the
members of his cabinet summarized the GODJ's accomplishments of the
past seven years, outlined remaining challenges, and fielded
questions from a broad cross-section of the Djiboutian public.
Many ordinary Djiboutians tuned in to live coverage of the week's
presentations and debates on state-run television and radio.
Following what senior GODJ officials characterized as an often
"intense" week of discussions, cabinet members digested the
collected critiques and suggestions at an offsite retreat in
northern Djibouti. President Guelleh and his team are expected to
announce resulting revised action plans in the coming weeks, and
there are some rumors that personnel shake-ups-if not at the
cabinet level, then at the technical level-may ensue. END SUMMARY.



-------------- --------------

MEDIA OUTREACH TO A LIVE AND AT-HOME AUDIENCE

-------------- --------------




2. (SBU) Djibouti's second "National Seminar of Reflection on
Government Action" took place May 2-9. The first such national
seminar was held in 2002; this second version examined the GODJ's
performance between 2002-2008. President Guelleh presided over the
week's events, which featured an invited live audience of
Djiboutian citizens. Invitees included participants from all of
Djibouti's regions, the private sector, and non-governmental
organizations. Audience members could pose questions live, while
listeners and viewers could also submit questions remotely.
Questions and responses were translated into local languages. In
addition to live radio and television coverage, the government-run
daily newspaper "La Nation" gave prominent attention to the
seminar, which it heralded as an example of "direct, participative
democracy" expressed through "constructive reflection and debate."
A dedicated GODJ website provided more detailed information on the
seminar, and allowed public access to transcripts of the various
ministers' speeches, a 200-page seminar "Framework Document," and
other materials.



--------------

TOPIC TEAMS EXPLORE KEY THEMES

--------------




3. (SBU) The week's debates were centered around five "theme
groups:" 1) Macro-economic stability, growth, and competitiveness;
2) Valuation of human capital, access to basic social services; 3)
Rural and urban development, food security, housing, and
environment; 4) Promotion of women, social solidarity, social
exclusion, and fighting poverty; and 5) Governance,
decentralization, internal and external security. Related
ministries were clustered together under each topic, and each
minister was given the opportunity to present a summary of
performance and then to respond to public questions. Questions
were wide-ranging, but reportedly largely constructive; President
Guelleh occasionally intervened personally as necessary to keep
discussions on-topic.




4. (SBU) Presentations by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his
Deputy Minister for International Cooperation outlined Djibouti's
diplomatic strategy to "reinforce links with traditional partners"
and "diversify relations with non-traditional partners." While the
Minister and Deputy Minister did not cite the U.S. among top
bilateral donors, they noted the re-establishment of USAID, and the
USG's "consistent support" for Djibouti's development. In
addition, they underlined the important overall impact of the U.S.
presence in Djibouti beyond traditional bilateral cooperation
programming-including through Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of
Africa civil affairs projects.

DJIBOUTI 00000549 002.2 OF 002


-------------- --------------

MOUNTAIN RETREAT AND NEW MARCHING ORDERS

-------------- --------------




5. (SBU) Following the conclusion of the weeklong seminar, cabinet
members regrouped for a three-day retreat at the President's summer
residence in the village of Day, located in the relatively remote ,
mountainous northern district of Tadjourah. State-run media
reported that the retreat was dedicated to a close examination of
the previous week's discussions, and that this evaluation would
inform President Guelleh's "new instructions and directives" to his
government. After the return of the ministers to Djibouti City on
May 17, Djiboutians continued to speculate about whether the
President's directions to the ministries might involve new
appointments to cabinet positions or other staff shuffles; MFA
contacts have also surmised that there may be some changes in
ambassadorial and other diplomatic appointments.




6. (SBU) COMMENT. While the national seminar unfolded in a
relatively controlled environment, questions were often pointed,
and the event afforded Djiboutians an important opportunity to
address their government directly-and in a format which resonated
with Djibouti's nomadic, oral tradition of direct negotiation and
debate. President Guelleh's self-evaluation of his government's
accomplishments was largely positive, yet he also told citizens
that he shared their feelings of "frustration and injustice" about
Djibouti's many remaining challenges, and acknowledged that there
was still much work to be done to ensure that new economic growth
yields real benefits for all regions and social groups. Guelleh
also highlighted the timeliness of the national seminar, calling it
an "important moment for listening, dialogue, and collective
reflection." With the nationwide April celebrations of the
President's tenth year in office-and calls for a constitutional
amendment allowing him to stand for a third term-fresh in
Djiboutians' minds-Guelleh and his government likely recognized an
opportune moment to model responsive governance. END COMMENT.
SWAN