US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI747

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000747 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Dept for ECA/PE/V/G/A and AF/PD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: 2005 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR NOMINATIONS 
 
SUMMARY 
1.   (U) Djibouti proposes three candidates for 
  International Visitors Programs in 2005. END SUMMARY 
 
2.   (U) Djibouti is host to the only U.S. military base in 
  Africa and a strategic partner in the War on Terror. 
  Exposure to Americans has been limited and the population, 
  which is 90 percent Muslim, is often ambivalent about the 
  United States and our presence in country. As the only 
  French speaking country in English speaking East Africa, our 
  ability to tap into regional resources is limited. We 
  believe the international visitors program is an important 
  step to building strong Francophone support in this front 
  line state in the GWOT 
 
3.   (U) Post has made every effort to focus on our critical 
  core MPP priorities in nominations including support of the 
  Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, the development of 
  the host relationship with the International Board of 
  Broadcasters and good governance and development issues. 
 
NOMINEES 
4.   (U) Please find post's nominees in priority order for 
  2005: 
 
Program: Transparency and Good Governance, March 7 - 25, 
2005 
A. Nominee's Full Name Hawa Ahmed Youssouf 
B: Home Address n/a 
Telephone: 253 35 34 09 
Email: n/a 
C. Date and Place of Birth: 9/11/66, Djibouti 
D. Gender: F 
E. Medical, Physical, Dietary, other restrictions: Muslim 
Diet 
F. Present Position and Title: Minister of Promotion of 
Women, Well-being and Social Affairs 
G. Current Institutional Affiliation: Ministry of Social 
Affairs 
H. Work Experience: Advisor to the Minister of Finance (1991- 
1998); Second governor of the World Bank, Djibouti (1992- 
1999); Assistant Governor of the African Development Bank, 
Djibouti (1992-1999), President of Women's Issues Ministry - 
IGAD (2000) 
I. Education, Academic and Professional Training: Civics and 
International Studies, Reims, France. 
J. Professional Memberships: n/a 
K. Previous Travel and Study in the U.S: Conference travel, 
NYC 
L. Language Capacity: French 4/4; English 3/3; Arabic 1/1. 
M. Post Statement: Hawa is Djibouti's first and only female 
minister. She is articulate, reliable and progressive - a 
strong voice for women's rights and other social issues. She 
will continue to act as strong and valuable voice of dissent 
in the Djiboutian government in the future, and supports 
many of our mission objectives re: transparency, democracy 
and social justice. 
N. Post Action Officer: Tiffany Bartish, Public Affairs 
Officer, bartishtm@state.gov, tel: 253 35 39 95 Fax: 253 35 
39 40. Secondary Contact: Ismahan Osman, Public Affairs 
Clerk, osmania@state.gov, repeat phone and fax. 
 
Program: Radio Broadcasting, January 31 - February 18, 2005 
A. Nominee's Full Name: Nabil Dorani 
B: Home Address: 
Telephone: 253 353928 
Email: n/a 
C. Date and Place of Birth: 7/13/53, Djibouti 
D. Gender: M 
E. Medical, Physical, Dietary, other restrictions: Muslim 
Diet 
F. Present Position and Title: Director of Programming at 
Radio Television Djibouti 
G. Current Institutional Affiliation: Radio Television 
Djibouti 
H. Work Experience: Assistant Director, Quidam. Director of 
a dozen features in Arabic and French, Producer, RTD from 
1984-2000. Director of Programming, RTD since 2000 
I. Education, Academic and Professional Training: History of 
Film, Sorbonne. Journalism Studies, Hedeberg Foundation 
J. Professional Memberships: n/a 
K. Previous Travel and Study in the U.S.: n/a 
L. Language Capacity: Fluent in French, Somali and Arabic 
(4/4, 4/4, 3/3) 
M. Post Statement: RTD has become increasingly important to 
Embassy Djibouti as a partner institution for a multi- 
million dollar IBB program. In addition, as the main radio 
and television outlet in Djibouti, post is attempting to 
partner with RTD to produce short public service pieces on 
anti-terrorism themes, especially in Somali and French. Mr. 
Dorani is progressive, an important 
N. Post Action Officer: Tiffany Bartish, Public Affairs 
Officer, bartishtm@state.gov, tel: 253 35 39 95 Fax: 253 35 
39 40. Secondary Contact: Ismahan Osman, Public Affairs 
Clerk, osmania@state.gov, repeat phone and fax. 
 
Grassroots Democracy, April 11-29, 2005 
A. Nominee's Full Name: Zeinab Kamil Ali 
B: Home Address: BP 259 Djibouti 
Telephone: 253 35 85 07 
Email: zeinab70@yahoo.com 
C. Date and Place of Birth: 7/29/1970 
D. Gender: F 
E. Medical, Physical, Dietary, other restrictions: Muslim 
Diet 
F. Present Position and Title: Deputy Director of 
Administration and Commerce, ONED (Djibouti Water Office) 
G. Current Institutional Affiliation: Ministry of 
Agriculture 
H. Work Experience: Mrs. Ali has worked at the Public Water 
Company for 12 years where she has held positions including: 
Chief of Personnel, Deputy Chief of Personnel, Media Liaison 
and Advisor to the Director General. 
I. Education, Academic and Professional Training: MA in law 
from the University of Besanon (France) 
J. Professional Memberships: Djiboutian Commission for Human 
Rights, Member of the Conseil Superieur de la Magistrature, 
Member of the design Committee for the Strategy for the 
Reduction of Poverty. 
K. Previous Travel and Study in the U.S. 
L. Language Capacity: French 4/4, Afar 5/5. 
M. Post Statement: Mrs. Ali has introduced several measures 
geared at workers' rights. She is well-regarded in her 
Ministry and known for her integrity and vision. She is one 
of the few women of Afar ethnicity who play a role in the 
government. Indeed, most Afar women are relatively 
uneducated. We foresee that Mrs. Ali will continue to play 
an important role in government and consider her a prime 
candidate for a program that focuses on transparency and 
social action. 
N. Post Action Officer: Tiffany Bartish, Public Affairs 
Officer, bartishtm@state.gov, tel: 253 35 39 95 Fax: 253 35 
39 40. Secondary Contact: Ismahan Osman, Public Affairs 
Clerk, osmania@state.gov, repeat phone and fax.