VZCZCXRO2648
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0750/01 3360433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010433Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0659
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1353
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0391

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COTONOU 000750 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK 
LONDON FOR PETER LORD 
PARIS FOR BKANEDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PROFILE OF NEW MINISTERS 
 
REF: COTONOU 688 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: This is the second of two cables concerning the 
second cabinet reshuffling of the Government of Benin (GOB), which 
took place on October 22. Reftel highlighted major changes in the 
new government and provided general background information on the 
reshuffle. This cable provides profiles of the 19 new ministers 
appointed and a list of those 11 retained.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Profiles of the 19 newly appointed ministers 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Minister of Foreign Affairs African Integration, Francophonie 
and the Beninese Diaspora 
 
Jean-Marie Ehouzou is a career diplomat. Prior to this appointment, 
Mr. Ehouzou was Benin's Permanent Representative to the United 
Nations. He served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy 
Director for Africa and Middle East Affairs, Deputy Director for the 
Communities from 1993 to 1996 and Director for International 
Organizations from 2000 to 2003. Before 2003, Mr. Ehouzou served as 
Ambassador in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti. He also worked as 
Director for the Coordination of External Resources from 1996 to 
2000 at the Ministry of Planning. Mr. Ehouzou was the first Beninese 
Ambassador appointed to the African Union. Aged 58, the new Foreign 
Affairs is married and has two children. 
 
¶3. (U) Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, Legislation and 
Human Rights, Spokesman of the Government 
 
After assuming office in 2006, President Yayi appointed Victor 
Topanou as Legal Adviser in his office and as the Secretary General 
of the Government. He had led the campaign team for the female 
candidate Celestine Zannou during the 2006 presidential election. 
Mr. Topanou is still a public law and political Science professor at 
the National University of Benin. The new Minister of Justice 
teaches public law at the University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic 
of Congo, as a visiting teacher. From 2000 onwards, Mr. Topanou held 
the position of Scientific Secretary for the UNESCO's Chair for 
Human Rights and Democracy at the University of Benin, an academic 
institution that promotes and provides training in Human Rights in 
the region. Minister Topanou currently serves on the National 
Advisory Committee for Human Rights and on the National Follow-up 
Committee for the application of human rights' international 
instruments. Topanou attended from 1991 to 1997 the Prestigious 
French University of Sorbonne where he obtained a doctorate in 
Political Science. During his tenure as Legal Advisor to President 
Yayi and Secretary General of the Government, Mr. Topanou maintained 
good relationships with post. He is 45 years old and married. 
 
4 (U) Minister of Health 
 
Issa Takpara, a medical doctor, previously served as professor of 
gynecology and obstetrics at the National University Teaching 
Hospital (CNHU). Mr. Takpara was the Special Advisor to President 
Yayi until his current appointment as Minister of Health. He earned 
a diploma in endocrinology of human reproduction from the Medical 
School of Montreal. Born in 1949, Mr. Takpara is regarded as a 
highly competent medical doctor and one of the best gynecologists in 
Benin. 
 
¶5. (U) Minister of Family and Solidarity 
 
Mamatou Marie Joe Meba Djossou is the new minister of Family and 
Solidarity. Mrs. Meba Djossou holds a doctorate in Environmental 
Health and earned a post graduate degree in Sociology-Anthropology. 
She was previously Technical Advisor for Social and Health Affairs 
to President Yayi. In 1995, she worked as Accountant Secretary for 
the Benin Agency for Family Promotion (ABPF) in Borgou, a northern 
province of Benin. Married, Minister Meba Djossou is 50 years old 
and has four children. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister Delegate for Maritime Economy, Maritime Transport 
and Port Reforms 
 
Prior to his appointment, Issa Badarou was the Technical Advisor for 
Equipment and Transport to President Yayi. Mr. Badarou is an 
Economics and Statistics Engineer who graduated from the European 
Training Center for Economic Statisticians of Developing Countries 
(CESD) of Paris. The new Minister Delegate for Maritime Economy, 
Maritime Transport and Port reforms worked as Consultant for the 
World Bank in 1990 and was elected Vice-President of the Benin 
Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Badarou was 
recruited by the Port of Cotonou in 1982 and started a long career 
 
COTONOU 00000750  002 OF 005 
 
 
that led to the positions of Head of the Port's statistics and 
exploitation office, Commercial Director (1988-1991), and Executive 
Director of the Port (1991-1997), successively. Former president 
Kerekou fired Badarou in 1997. In 2000, he was arrested and 
subsequently released on bail over allegations of an illegal 
investment of CFA 450,000,000 (roughly $9,000,000) in a company 
based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire and of an illegal award of a public 
contract for the construction of a hall in the Port. Mr. Badarou is 
known by the public as a highly competent official who has gained 
strong experience in port-related issues over the years. In 1998, he 
opened a Tourist and Entertainment Complex, BYMINS, worth CFA 
25,000,000,000 (approximately USD 50,000,000). 
 
¶7. (U) Minister of Petroleum and Mining Research 
 
Barthelemy Kassa is a former National Assembly's deputy who was 
elected from the list of the Union for the Future of Benin (UBF), an 
alliance of parties and various movements that supported former 
President Kerekou in the 2001 presidential poll. Later, Mr. Kassa 
joined Yayi's pro-coalition Front Cowry for the Emergence of Benin 
(FCBE).  Mr. Kassa was a member of the National Independent 
Electoral Commission Board (CENA) during the 2008 communal and local 
elections. Agronomist by career, he also earned a postgraduate 
degree in natural resources management from the National University 
of Benin. He taught agronomy in Benin's main Agricultural Schools. 
In 2002, Mr. Kassa served on the National Committee for the 
elaboration of endangered species conservation strategy (CENAGREF). 
The new minister of Petroleum and Mining Research conducted in-depth 
studies on forestry, wildlife, botanic and biosphere. He is 38 
years. 
 
¶8. (U) Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature 
 
Prior to his current appointment, Justin Adanmayi worked as Deputy 
Director of Programming and Prospect at the Ministry of Environment. 
 Mr. Adanmayi is a seasoned Water, Forestry and Hunting Engineer who 
has worked on projects related to environment, biodiversity, and 
nature conservation in Benin. He studied in the Federal Republic of 
Germany, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire. Mr. Adanmayi is 50 years old, 
married, and has 3 children. 
 
¶9. (U) Minister of Secondary Education, Technical and Vocational 
Training 
 
Bernard Lani Davo is a career Economic Analyst. Before this 
appointment, he was the Deputy Secretary in charge of parliamentary 
affairs of President Yayi's FCBE. Mr. Davo is the president of the 
Democratic Party for a New Alliance (PDNA). His party endorsed 
President Yayi's candidacy in the 2006 presidential election and 
subsequently rallied to the pro-Yayi FCBE. Mr. Davo was elected 
deputy to the National Assembly for three successive legislative 
terms (1995-1999; 1999-2003 and 2003-2007). 
 
¶10. (SBU) Minister of Higher Education and Scienific Research 
 
Francois Adebayo Abiola ws a deputy at the National Assembly until 
his current appointment. Mr. Abiola is a key member of Sefou 
Fagbohoun's African Movement for Democracy and Progress (MADEP) 
(Begin note: Sefou Fagbohoun is a political leader and wealthy 
Beninese businessman who was arrested and detained in 2003 on 
serious charges of mismanagement and embezzlement from the gas 
parastatal SONACOP in the case known as the SONACOP affair. He was 
elected to the National Assembly before his release from prison in 
June 2008. End Note). As a professor of Veterinary Science, Mr. 
Abiola is a holder of aggregation in Toxicology from the University 
of Paris II. He served as Director of the Inter-State School of 
veterinary in Dakar, Senegal. Mr. Abiola is recipient of highest 
academic and civilian decorations from the Governments of Benin 
(Officer of the National Order of Benin in 2002), France (Chancellor 
of the Agricultural Merit Order in 1986), Senegal (the Order of 
Knighthood in 1996), of Cameroon (Officer of the Order of Knighthood 
of Value of Cameroon in 2000), and of Chad (Officer of the 
Renaissance Order in 1999). The new minister is 58 years old. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Ministry of Labor and Public Service 
 
Charles Kint Aguiar is a Commercial Engineer and a high-ranking 
teacher by career. Previously, Mr. Aguiar was the Administrative 
Director of the Benin Center of Scientific and Technical Research 
and the Head of the National Association of Rural Initiatives 
(ANAR). He served as the National Assembly's Special Envoy for 
various missions abroad. Until his appointment, the new Minister of 
Labor and Public Service was the Secretary General of the African 
Movement for Democracy and Progress- MADEP (see Para 10). Mr. Aguiar 
led several Beninese delegations to international consultations on 
education for AIDS prevention. He was also a member of the 
 
COTONOU 00000750  003 OF 005 
 
 
African-Arabic Inter-Parliamentary Union and represented Benin at 
the 12th World Young Students Festival. Mr. Aguiar was also the 
President of the Benin's Hand Sport Federation. He is 63 years old. 
 
¶12. (U) Minister of Administrative and Institutional Reform 
 
Joseph Ahanhanzo is an expert in educational policy and planning and 
development project management. Mr. Ahanhanzo graduated from the 
Benin National School of Administration (ENA) and earned a 
postgraduate degree in Business Administration from the Catholic 
University of Lilles, France. Minister Ahanhanzo has spent 19 years 
working in ministries in charge of Education where he has held 
senior positions. He worked also for the Danish International 
Development Agency (DANIDA). Mr. Ahanhanzo belongs to several 
national and international associations. In October 2004, he was 
decorated Chancellor of the Academic Palms Order of France. The new 
minister is 50 years old. 
 
¶13. (U) Minister of Sports and Leisure 
 
Etienne Kossi is a Telecommunication Engineer by career. Prior to 
joining President Yayi's government, Mr. Kossi was the Services 
Development and Strategy Adviser at the telecommunications 
parastatal TELECOMS. He was recruited in 1982 by the then 
state-owned Telecommunication Company OPT on return to Benin from 
the Polytechnic Institute of Timisora, in Romania where he graduated 
in Telecommunication Engineering. From 1982 until his current 
appointment, Mr. Kossi has held several positions in TELECOMS 
including head of the Local Network Section, Director of 
Telecommunication, Technical Advisor, and Director of 
Telecommunication's Project and Planning. From 1990 to 1994 Mr. 
Kossi was in charge of supervising the design and implementation of 
a local phone network to connect the major cities of Benin. Minister 
Kossi is 52 years old and married. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Minister of Youth, Microfinance and Young People and 
Women's Employment 
 
Reckya Madougou is a Management and Marketing Expert and Consultant 
by career. Mrs. Madougou earned a diploma in Commercial Engineering 
and a post graduate degree in International Commerce and 
International Relations. Her area of expertise covers a wide range 
of issues including social mobilization, democracy, good governance, 
project design and monitoring and communication strategies. Until 
her appointment, Mrs. Madougou was the Executive Director of a 
Consulting firm that specializes in management and strategy. She 
served as Commercial and Marketing Director for the Mobile 
Telecommunication Company Bell Benin and as Director of a 
Documentation and Information Center for Youth. From 1999 to 2001, 
Mrs. Madougou worked as project Manager in a French Consulting Firm 
in Paris. As a social activist, she created an NGO called ELAN that 
launched in 2006 a nationwide campaign against the amendment of the 
constitution to extend the presidential mandate. Mrs. Madougou was 
the President of the Civil Society Organizations for Democratic, 
Free, Peaceful and Fair Elections (FORS) that played a key role in 
the smooth running of the 2006 presidential election. (Begin note: 
Many critics link her appointment by President Yayi to her 
contribution to the success of these elections. End note). 
Mrs. Madougou is a former U.S. Women of Courage nominee and a former 
2006 International Visitor Program alumna.  The new minister has 
received the International Prize of the best African Women, the Best 
Social Awards, the Ten Outstanding Young People awards, the Best 
Initiative and Courage in Public Action, and others. Mrs. Madougou 
is 33 years old and has one child. 
 
¶15. (U) Minister of Handcraft Industry and Tourism 
 
Prior to joining President Yayi's government, Mamata Bako Djaouga 
was the Executive Director of the Benin's National Lottery Company 
(LNB). She is the current President of the Association of African 
Lottery Companies. Mrs. Djaouga is a holder of a master degree in 
Business Administration from the University of Paris IX Dauphine and 
a postgraduate degree in Public Enterprises Law. She also earned a 
postgraduate degree in Development Cooperation from the Free 
University of Brussels, Belgium. From 1994 to November 2001, Mrs. 
Djaouga was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Civil 
Service and served on the Benin High Authority for Electrical 
Communication. Muslim by birth, Mrs. Djaouga changed religion and 
became an Evangelist Christian. Born in 1957, the new minister is 
married and has four children. 
 
¶16. (U) Minister of Decentralization, Local Governance and 
Territorial Management. 
 
Until his current appointment, Allassane Seidou was a National 
Assembly's deputy who ran as an alternate candidate in the March 
 
COTONOU 00000750  004 OF 005 
 
 
2007 legislative election under the auspices of the FCBE. Mr. Seidou 
joined the National Assembly as the substitute for Jerome Sacca Kina 
who died in the course of his mandate. He served on the Commission 
on External Relations, Development Cooperation, Defense and Security 
at the National Assembly. Before his election, Mr. Seidou was the 
mayor of Kandi, a city in the northeast of Benin. Born in 1958, 
Minister Seidou is a medical doctor by career. He is married and has 
five children. 
 
¶17. (U) Minister in charge of the Relations with the Institutions 
 
Zakari Baba Body, the new Minister in Charge of the Relations with 
the Institutions was called to the bar in 1997. He teaches at the 
National School of Administration and Magistrates (ENAM), his alma 
mater. Earlier, Mr. Baba Body served as Assistant to the Director of 
Labor and Manpower at the Ministry of Labor. He obtained several law 
degrees from the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law 
in Africa (OHADA) and received trainings on international labor 
standards. Born in 1962, the new minister is married and has one 
child. 
 
¶18. (U) Minister-Delegate for Ground Transportation, Air 
Transportation and Public Work in the Office of the President of the 
Republic 
 
Nicaise Fagnon was the Executive Director of the former Cotton 
Parastatal company (SONAPRA) and Technical Adviser for Economic 
Affairs to President Yayi until his current appointment. Mr. Fagnon 
worked at the West African Development Bank (BOAD) in Lome, Republic 
of Togo, where he successively held the positions of Financial 
Analyst and officer in charge of the programming and the financial 
management of this bank. Earlier, he served as Senior Banking 
Executive in a local branch of a Nigerian private-owned bank in 
Cotonou (BOA). Minister Fagnon is married and has four children. 
 
¶19. (U) Minister of Nursery and Primary Education 
 
The Minister Chabi Felicien Zacharie was the Executive Director of 
the General Treasury and Public Accounting Office at the Ministry of 
Finance until his current appointment. Mr. Zacharie entered the 
civil service in 1981 after he completed economic studies at the 
National University of Benin. His career began at the then Ministry 
of Transport and Equipment where he has held senior positions. 
Minister Zacharie is 53 years old, married and has 3 children. 
 
¶20. (U) Minister in charge of Small and Medium Scale Businesses and 
the Promotion of the Private Sector 
 
Leandre Houaga used to be the Technical Assistant to the Minister of 
Secondary Education. He was the former Executive Director of an 
Import-Export Company (SOGECIS-SARL). Mr. Houaga campaigned for 
pro-Yayi FCBE candidates during the April and May 2008 municipal 
elections. He is married and has three children. 
 
 
------------------- 
Retained Ministers 
------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The following 11 ministers have been retained, with 5 changes 
in the ministerial portfolios and ministries denominations: 
 
- Mr. Pascal Irene Koupaki, Minister of State in charge of Economic 
Forecasting, Development and Public Action Evaluation; 
- Mr. Issifou Kogui N'Douro, Minister of State in charge of National 
Defense; 
- Mr. Armand Zinzindohou, Ministry of Interior and Public Security 
(Former Minister Delegate for Transport and Public Works in the 
Office of the President of the Republic); 
- Mr. Roger Dovonou, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and 
Fishing; 
- Mr. Soule Mana Lawani, Minister of Economy and Finance; 
- Mrs. Christine Ouensavi, Minister of Commerce(Former Minister of 
Primary Education); 
- Mr. Sacca Lafia, Minister of Energy and Water; 
- Mr. Galiou Soglo, Minister of Culture, Literacy and Local Language 
Promotion (Former Minister of Youth, Sports and Leisure); 
- Mr. Desire Adadja, Minister Delegate for Communication and 
Information Technology in the Office of the President of the 
Republic; 
- Mr. Francois Gbenoukpo Noudegbessi, Minister of Urban Development, 
Housing, Land Reform and Coastal Erosion Fight. 
- Mr. Gregoire Akofodji, Minister of Industry (Former Minister of 
Industry, Commerce and Small and Medium Scale Businesses). 
 
 
 
COTONOU 00000750  005 OF 005 
 
 
 
BROWN