US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA1260

C O N F I D E N T I A L  NDJAMENA 001260 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, INR, DRL; LONDON AND PARIS FOR 
AFRICAWATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, KDEM, CD, Government and Biographic Reports, Political Stability 
SUBJECT: CHAD: LONG AWAITED CABINET RESHUFFLE 
 
Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Kathleen FitzGibbon for reaso 
ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary: President Idriss Deby reshuffled his 
cabinet on August 7, placing the Ministry of Defense under 
the Presidency.  Key changes include the Ministers of 
Defense, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, and Finance.  The 
new cabinet may reflect the President's security concerns and 
his ire with previous ministers in the wake of the public 
referendum.  The replacement of fifteen ministers is the 
largest reshuffling in recent memory.  The cabinet was 
expanded by three members and the number of female ministers 
increased from three to six.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U)  President Idriss Deby changed his cabinet on August 
7.  Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji dubbed the new cabinet 
"the Government of Combat".  The new government's "mission" 
will be to win the upcoming communal elections in October and 
the presidential and legislative elections in early 2006. 
Yaodimnadji complained that the previous ministers failed to 
eradicate mismanagement, embezzelement, insecurity, and 
impunity.  Deby reportedly advised the new appointees to be 
open to the media, on message, and discreet about discussions 
among ministers.  Ruling party Secretary General, Mahamat 
Hissein, commented that independent journalists are now 
facing problems because they have sided with opposition 
parties.  Otherwise, Hissein said that the ruling Movement 
for Patriotic Salvation would have intervened to assist them. 
 
3.  (C) Most observers expected a cabinet change after the 
previous ministers failed to produce a "oui massif" in the 
public referendum on June 6.  The President's travel to 
France for a medical vacation from June 15-July 15 precluded 
making changes until his return.  The most noteworthy changes 
were the removal of Defense Minister Emmanuel Nadingar and 
Public Security Minister Abderahman Moussa and placement of 
the Ministry of Defense under the Presidency.  Previously, 
the Ministry of Defense reported to the Prime Minister. 
Nadingar has been named Minister of Transport.  President 
Deby reportedly intended on making his son, Brahim Deby, the 
Minister of Defense.  Civilian and military sources told us 
that the French opposed such a move, delaying the reshuffle. 
The placement of the military under the Presidency may be 
aimed at consolidating Deby's control over the military, 
particularly at a time when he is concerned about security in 
the north and east.  Bichara Issa Djadallah, a Minister at 
the Presidency, is now in charge of National Defense. 
Bichara, an ethnic Arab, reportedly is well-placed to handle 
threats in the north, especially from Libya.  The move may 
enhance the ability of Deby's son, Brahim, who serves aa a 
Secretary in the Presidency, to call on the military for 
 
SIPDIS 
support in the event of a power struggle within the family. 
(Septel) 
 
4.  (C) Minister of Public Security and Immigration 
Abderahman Moussa's departure also surprised many observers 
as he was considered to be the linchpin to maintaining 
physical security in the country.  One source suggested that 
after last week's coup in Mauritania, Deby may have decided 
to put a less independent actor in charge of security. 
Moussa may end up as a security advisor within the 
Presidency.  Routuang Golum, former Commerce Minister, has 
been named Moussa's successor.  Golum, a former military 
general, interacted frequently with the Embassy on trade and 
commerce matters while serving as Commerce Minister.  He was 
active at Commerce despite his lack of experience in 
commercial matters.  His security background makes him better 
suited for his new posting at Public Security.  However, we 
do not expect him to act as independently as Moussa. 
 
5. (C) An interesting addition to the cabinet is Mahamat 
Garfa as Minister of Post and New Communications Technology. 
He is a former head of the National Resistance Army (ANR). 
His inclusion may be a reward for his Tama rebels' 
infiltration and sabotage of Mahamat Nour's movement. 
 
6.  (SBU) Two members of Chad's Mediation Team for Darfur 
were promoted.  They are both out of the country traveling on 
Darfur-related consultations so it is not yet clear whether 
they will surrender their Darfur responsibilities.  Ahmad 
Allam-mi moves from his position as Special Advisor to the 
 
President for International Relations to Foreign Minister and 
the Chairman of the Joint Commission on the Cease-fire on 
Darfur, General Mahamat Ali Abdullah, was named Minister for 
Territorial Administration.  Some are surprised that Ali was 
named to this post, which oversees the Governors and 
Prefects, given that he is often rumored to be a likely 
successor to Deby.  He had previously served as Prefect of 
Moundou, Minister of Public Security and Finance.  Longtime 
Foreign Minister Nagoum Yamassoum reportedly will join the 
"Francophonie" Institute in Paris, which is increasingly 
serving as a mechanism for French support for African 
elections.  His positioning there is a prelude to next year's 
presidential elections. 
 
7.  (SBU) IMF Resident Representative Wayne Camard is 
satisfied with the naming of former Cabinet Director and 
nephew of the President, Abbas Tolli, as Minister of Finance. 
 Tolli, according to Cammard is a strong manager and his ties 
to the Presidency could be important to future budget 
discussions. 
 
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NEW GOVERNMENT LIST 
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8.  (U)  The newly appointed ministers include: 
 
Minister of State for Infrastructure: Adoum Younousmi 
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure for Transport: Emmanuel 
Nadingar 
Minister of State, Minister of National Education, Youth, and 
Sports: Avocksouma Djona 
Deputy Minister of Education for Primary and Secondary 
Education: Mahamat Maouloud Izzadine 
Deputy Minister of Education for University, Scientific 
Research, and Professional Training: Dr. Idriss Ali Faroukh 
Deputy Minister of Education for Youth and Sports: Oumar 
Boukar 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration: Ahmad 
Allam-mi 
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration: 
Dillah Lucienne 
Minister of Public Health: Moussa Khadam 
Minister of Justice: Ngarta Mbaiouroun Edouard 
Minister of Finance: Abbas Mahamat Tolli 
Deputy Minister of Finance in Charge of Budget: Nadjalta 
Mirangaye 
Minister of Agriculture: Payimi Padacke Albert 
Deputy Minister at the Presidency for National Defense: 
Bichara Issa Djadallah 
Minister of Economy, Plan, and Cooperation: Mahamat Ali Hassan 
Minister of Territorial Administration: Gen. Mahamat Ali 
Abdullah 
Minister of Public Security and Immigration: Routouang Yoma 
Golom 
Minister of Environment and Water: Hissein Ahmed Senoussi 
Deputy Minister for Water Resources: Haoua Outman 
Minister of Livestock: Mahamat Allamine Bourma 
Minister of Urban Management and Housing: Dr. Chene Adoum 
Minister of Social Action and Family: Hassan Terap 
Minister of Civil Service, Labor, and Employment: Fatime Kimto 
Minister of Mines and Energy: Youssouf Abassallah 
Minister of Petroleum: Mahamat Nasser Hassan 
Minister of Communication, Culture, Spokesperson for the 
Government: Hourmadji Moussa Doumngor 
Minister of Ethics, Inspector General: Mahamat Bechir Okormi 
Minister of Commerce and Artisans: Carmelle Ngarmbatina 
Minister of Postal Service, New Technology, and 
Communications: Mahamat Garfa 
Secretary General of Government: Djividi Boukar 
 
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Assistant Secretary of Government: Mirian Moussa Ali 
Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights: 
Abderamane Djasnabaille 
 
- - - - 
COMMENT 
- - - - 
 
9.  (C)  Aside from the movement of the Defense Ministry 
under Presidential control, the other cabinet changes do not 
signal any real change in direction or likely improvement in 
 
government performance.  The departure of many cabinet 
members was expected after they failed to produce a large 
turn-out for the public referendum on June 6.  It is 
questionable whether this team will fare any better. 
 
10.  (U) Khartoum and Tripoli Minimize. 
WALL 
 
 
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