MOZAMBICAN AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO THE U.S. AMELIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000776 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL AMGT TBIO MZ SUBJECT: MOZAMBICAN AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO THE U.S. AMELIA SUMBANA - BACKGROUND INFO Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Matthew Roth, Reasons 1.4(b+d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Embassy hosted Mozambican Ambassador-designate to the United States Amelia Sumbana on July 8. Agencies and sections gave overviews of key issues on the bilateral agenda, including concerns about local labor law and work permits. Sumbana comes from a powerful FRELIMO party family, and was named to the job because of her experience with international relations and her direct channel of communication to President Armando Guebuza. The government of Mozambique expects her to expand and improve relations with the United States, reflecting a top level decision to broaden U.S.-Mozambican engagement, especially on trade and regional political issues. End summary. -------------- Mission Hosts Ambassador Designate -------------- ¶2. (C) The Charge hosted Mozambican Ambassador-designate to the United States Amelia Sumbana on July 8, for a two-hour briefing by mission elements and a two hour one-on-one luncheon. USAID, CDC, PEPFAR, DATT, Pol/Econ, and Management gave broad overviews of key issues in the bilateral relationship. Mission demarched Sumbana on a series of topics, especially noting recent problems with the labor law, work permits, and visas. -------------- Atmospherics and Biographic Info -------------- ¶3. (C) Amelia Sumbana, an international relations and economics specialist, is leaving her third term as a Deputy in the National Assembly to be Mozambique's Ambassador to the United States--her first ambassadorial post. First brought into politics in 1962 at age 13 by her uncle, who was imprisoned by the Portuguese for revolutionary activities, she was later involved in student political groups and joined FRELIMO before independence. She is a member of a "dynasty" family in Mozambique, which has impeccable liberation credentials and several members in high levels of government and the FRELIMO party. Sumbana understands English fluently, and speaks well though with a strong Mozambican accent. She is married and has one daughter who works for USAID Mozambique, and three sons, two of whom studied in Oklahoma. She does not yet have a timetable for her move to Washington. Sumbana told the Charge that her husband did not plan to live with her in Washington, but would visit regularly. ¶4. (C) Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation Oldemiro Baloi told the Charge that he selected Sumbana because of her experience with international relations, and because of her direct channel of communication to President Armando Guebuza; her brother-in-law Antonio Sumbana is Minister of the Presidency and a top Guebuza advisor. Another brother-in-law, Fernando Sumbana, is Minister of Tourism, Youth, and Sports. Minister Baloi and representatives from the President's office say that she is widely expected to expand and improve relations with the United States, reflecting a top level decision to broaden U.S.-Mozambican engagement, especially on trade and regional political issues. ¶5. (C) Ambassador-designate Sumbana told the Charge on the margins of the briefing that she thought she had been named ambassador because she has worked hard in her long political career; she also confided that she is a bit nervous about having been selected for such an important post as her first ambassadorial assignment. Sumbana told emboffs that personal relationships are key to working productively, and that she worries about the ability to establish friendships with Americans in Washington, "because everyone is so busy." -------------- -------------- Comment: A Concrete Step to Improve the Relationship -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) In the meetings, the elegant and well-dressed Sumbana was an engaged listener who asked pointed questions about concrete issues, particularly about perceived shortcomings in the various ministries of her Government. She was carefully noncommittal on potentially controversial political topics, and seemed concerned with that local Mozambican politicians were consulted and informed about the numerous U.S.-sponsored development projects throughout the country. Between her clear grasp of the political sensitivities and complicated issues in our bilateral relationship and her direct access to MAPUTO 00000776 002 OF 002 the highest levels of the GRM and Frelimo party, Sumbana has the potential to add new dynamism to our bilateral relationship and be an influential player to help us move forward key initiatives. CHAPMAN