US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA29

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, ASEC 
SUBJECT:  CONGO/B: GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ASKED TO RESIGN, NEW 
CABINET TO BE ANNOUNCED JAN 8 
 
REF:  04 KINSHASA 02115 
 
1. (SBU) ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, MINISTERIES 
INCLUDED, WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT THEIR RESIGNATIONS LATE 
EVENING JANUARY 5, 2004.  WE ARE TOLD THAT THE CABINET WILL 
DRASTICALLY CHANGE, AND THAT PRESIDENT SASSOU WILL ANNOUNCE 
THE NEW CABINET ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2005.  IN ADDITION 
OUR CONTACTS HAVE INFORMED US THAT NOT ONLY WILL COMPOSITION 
CHANGE, BUT THE CUMBERSOME 37 MEMBER CABINET WILL BE REDUCED 
TO AROUND 26 MEMBERS OR LESS.  THE GOAL OF THE CABINET 
SHUFFLE, WHICH HAD BEEN RUMORED FOR SOME TIME, IS TO 
POSITION HIMSELF MORE AS A REFORMER, AND HAVE MORE PEOPLE 
AROUND HIM THAT CAN ENSURE THAT THE COUNTRY STAYS ON THE 
RIGHT TRACK FOR IMF AND BEGIN THE HARDER TASK OF POLITICAL 
REFORM.  THERE ARE POLITICAL RISKS TO THE CABINET RESHUFFLE 
SINCE MOST OF THE INNER CIRCLE ARE FROM OTHER NORTHERN 
ETHNIC GROUPS WHO HELPED HIM WIN THE 1997-1999 WARS AND ARE 
ALREADY UNHAPPY BECAUSE THE PURSE STRINGS ARE TIGHTER WITH 
THE IMF WATCHING.  HOWEVER, AS REPORTED REFTEL, PRESIDENT 
SASSOU IS TRYING TO APPEAR TO BE A REFORMER AND WANTS TO 
ESTABLISH HIS NEW UNION OF THE REPUBLIC PARTY, BREAKING AWAY 
FROM THE OLD PCT PARTY HARDLINERS, MANY HAILING FROM THE OLD 
SOVIET DAYS.  THE CABINET SHUFFLE IS HIS PUBLIC STEP IN THAT 
DIRECTION.  POST WILL REPORT FURTHER ONCE NEW CABINET IS 
ANNOUNCED JAN 8. 
 
2. BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE - SANDERS. 
 
MEECE