US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA23

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000023 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, CG 
SUBJECT: GDRC RESHUFFLES CABINET 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 2168 
 
     B. KINSHASA 2192 
     C. KINSHASA 1578 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GDRC carried out a sizeable cabinet 
reshuffle January 3, replacing the Ministers of Defense, 
Mines, and Energy, among others.  The long-awaited move is 
the outcome of a recent parliamentary report on official 
corruption, combined with a desire on the part of the 
RCD-Goma's leadership to enforce party discipline.  These 
changes should not significantly affect USG interests.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) The GDRC carried out a cabinet reshuffle January 3, 
involving eleven different ministries.  (Note:  The 36 
ministerial and 25 vice-ministerial posts in the transitional 
government are divided up among the various factions in 
power, each of which has authority to nominate and and 
replace "its" respective appointees.  According to the new 
lineup, four of the 36 ministries will be headed by women, as 
before.  End Note.)  Although the move mostly affected the 
six ministers who were suspended in November 2004 after being 
cited by a parliamentary report on official corruption (Ref 
A), both the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy 
(PPRD) and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma) made 
additional changes.  Post will provide bio information on key 
ministers septel. 
 
REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PARLIAMENTARY REPORT ON CORRUPTION: 
 
Minister of Mines - Ingele Ifoto (political opposition), 
replaces Eugene Diomi 
 
Minister of Energy - Pierre Muziumba Mwana Hembe (PPRD), 
replaces Kalema Lusona 
 
Foreign Trade - Chantal Ngalula Mulumba (RCD-N), replaces 
Roger Lumbala (Note: Ngalula is reportedly Lumbala's wife. 
End Note.) 
 
Public Works and Infrastructure - left vacant (MLC), (Note: 
pending replacement of Jose Endundo.  End Note.) 
 
Transport - Eva Mwakasa (political opposition), replaces 
Joseph Olengankhoy 
 
University and Higher Education - Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga 
(RCD-Goma), replaces Joseph Mudumbi 
 
REPLACEMENTS DUE TO RCD-GOMA RE-DESIGNATION OF MINISTERS: 
 
Minister of Defense - Adolphe Onusumba (RCD-Goma), replaces 
Jean-Pierre Ondekane 
 
Minister of Economy - Floribert Bokanga (RCD-Goma), replaces 
Emile Ngoy 
 
Labor - Boniface Balamage Nkolo (RCD-Goma), replaces 
Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga 
 
REPLACEMENT DUE TO PPRD RE-DESIGNATION OF MINISTERS: 
 
Health - Emile Bongeli ye Ikelo (PPRD), replaces Athanasie 
Moleko Moliwa 
 
REPLACEMENT DUE TO VACANCY: 
 
Social Affairs - Laurent Otete Omanga (political opposition), 
replaces Ingele Ifoto 
 
COMMENT 
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3. (SBU)  The shuffle came as no surprise to Kinshasa 
observers, in the wake of the parliamentary report on 
corruption, and after months of infighting among RCD-Goma 
leaders.  It is unclear whether the continued vacancy at 
Public Works (a slot reserved for Vice President Jean-Pierre 
Bemba's Congo Liberation Movement) means Bemba is still 
trying to keep Jose Endundo, perhaps his closest confidant 
and adviser, in the job or whether the MLC chief simply has 
not yet decided on a replacement.  The outgoing PPRD Health 
Minister was widely perceived as ineffective.  The new 
RCD-Goma Ministers of Defense and Economy are closer to Vice 
President Ruberwa than were their predecessors, both of whom 
remained in Kinshasa in August when Ruberwa and other 
RCD-Goma officials temporarily suspended their participation 
in the transitional government.  END COMMENT. 
MEECE