CABINET RESHUFFLE - PROMOTION FOR WORK IN GAFSA?

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000457 SIPDIS NEA/MAG (MHAYES, JPATTERSON),INR (TKING) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019 TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL TS SUBJECT: CABINET RESHUFFLE - PROMOTION FOR WORK IN GAFSA? REF: A. 08 TUNIS 1238 ¶B. 08 TUNIS 841 ¶C. 08 TUNIS 761 ¶D. 08 TUNIS 615 ¶E. 08 TUNIS 596 ¶F. 08 TUNIS 394 ¶G. 08 TUNIS 131 Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.2 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) The GOT announced two cabinet changes recently. Ridha Ben Mosbah was promoted to Minister of Commerce and Handicrafts from CEO of the state-owned Tunisia Chemical Group and the Gafsa Phosphate Company (GPC). Ridha Touiti was moved from Minister of Commerce and Handicrafts to serve directly in the Prime Minister's office, without portfolio. -------------- -------------- Ridha Ben Mosbah - Minister of Commerce and Handicrafts -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Ridha Ben Mosbah was appointed Minister of Commerce and Handicrafts on June 10, 2009. Prior to that he was appointed CEO of the Gafsa Phosphate Company (GPC) on June 8, 2008, two days after violent protests broke out in the phosphate mining town of Redeyef (Reftels). The demonstration culminated months of labor protests in Gafsa province ignited by allegations that the GPC was hiring people outside the region and not honoring its commitments to the local employees and their families. Although the situation in Gafsa became calmer after June 2008, that was primarily due to the high security presence in the province, rather than to changes in the company management. Mosbah is considered by the GOT as a reliable technocrat who served well in a tough spot. His promotion, however, may not indicate that his star is rising within the RCD since he lacks the usual and necessary RCD party credentials. ¶3. (C) Mosbah has a degree in civil engineering for mines and previously worked as a project coordinator at the GPC from 1992-1998. Prior to being appointed CEO of the GPC, Mosbah was Secretary of State in the Ministry of Higher Education from January 2007-2009; Secretary of State (Deputy Minister) for Renewable Energy and Food Industry at the Ministry of Industry 2004-2007; Director General of Industrial Strategies at the Ministry of Industry and Energy 2001-2004. Ben Mosbah was born on April 8, 1954 and speaks French and Arabic. He is married and has three children (full bio will be e-mailed to NEA/MAG). -------------- Ridha Touiti: Advisor to the Prime Minister -------------- ¶4. (C) Ridha Touiti was appointed Advisor to the Prime Minister, without portfolio June 10, 2009. Prior to that, he was Minister of Commerce and Handicrafts from September 3, ¶2007. Najib Chebbi, leader of the opposition Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) told Poloff that Touiti may have been removed from the Ministry because he ran afoul of President Ben Ali,s nephew Imed Trabelsi. PDP reported in its newspaper, Al-Mawqif, on June 19, 2009, that Touiti denied Trabelsi authorization to build a big shopping center (Bricorama) near a residential area in violation of the regulations. After Touiti,s removal, the Ministry allowed the building to go forward on an exceptional basis. ¶5. (U) Touiti obtained a PhD in Chemistry from a university in Paris and a postgraduate degree from the Tunis Higher Management Institute. In 1979, he started his professional career at the Ministry of National Economy. Later being, appointed as Director General of domestic trade and competition in 1993; Industry Minister's Chief of Staff from 1995-1998; Director General of Tunisia's Trade Office from 1998-2006; Chief of the Executive Office of the Gafsa Phosphate Company and the Chemical Group of Tunisia starting in February, 2006. Touiti is married with one child. He was born on December 29, 1950, in Gabes and speaks Arabic and French. Godec