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RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0790
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA CAMP LEMONIER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000084 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND INR/AA 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PINR MA
SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR PRIME MINISTER SELECTS NEW CABINET 
 
REF: A. ANTANANARIVO 0078 
     ¶B. ANTANANARIVO 0060 
 
ANTANANARI 00000084  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reasons 1.4 B and D. 
 
¶1. (U) As anticipated in reftels, newly appointed Prime 
Minister Gen. Charles Rabemananjara (who maintains his 
portfolio as Minister of Interior), named his new cabinet 
January 25: 
 
-- Minister to the Presidency in charge of Decentralization 
and Land Use Planning:  Yvan Andrianasandratriniony (Former 
Ambassador to South Africa); 
 
-- Minister of Defense:  Gen. Petera Behajaina (Retained; he 
is from the coast "Cotier") 
 
-- Minister of Justice:  Lala Henriette Ratsiharovala 
(Retained as the only woman in the Cabinet, although a female 
academic from Antsiranana, Cecile Manorohanta, was named Vice 
Minister of Education and Scientific Research); 
 
-- Minister of Civil Service and Social Law:  Tsiandopy 
Jacquis (Former Governor of Antsiranana and a Cotier); 
 
-- Minister of Finance and Budget:  Benjamin Radavidson 
Andriamparany (Retained); 
 
-- Minister of Environment and Forest:  Koto Bernard (Former 
Chief of Region of Vatovavy Fitovinany and a Cotier); 
 
-- Minister of Foreign Affairs:  Gen. Marcel Ranjeva 
(Retained); 
 
-- Minister of Health and Family Planning:  Dr. Jean Louis 
Robinson (Retained); 
 
-- Minister of National Education and Scientific Research: 
Haja Nirina Razafinjatovo (Retained); 
 
-- Minister of Agriculture:  Marius Ratolojanahary (Former 
Secretary General to the Ministry of Agriculture, Poultry and 
 
SIPDIS 
Fisheries); 
 
-- Minister of Youth and Sports:  Philemon Rabarison (Not 
well known); 
 
-- Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Communication: 
Bruno Andrianatavison (Retained); 
 
-- Minister of Economy, Commerce, Planning and Private 
Sector:  Harrison Randriarimanana (Moving over from being 
Minister of Agriculture, Poultry and Fisheries); 
 
-- Minister of Public Works and Meteorology:  Rolland 
Randriamampionona (In a slight shift of portfolio - he had 
been Minister of Public Works and Transportation); 
 
-- Minister of Transportation and Tourism:  Julien Laporte 
Rabenarivo (A former official at the Presidency); 
 
-- Minister of Energy:  Patrick Ramiaramanana (Former Mayor 
of Antananarivo and a protege of President Marc Ravalomanana); 
 
-- Minister of Mines:  Olivier Donat Andriamahefaparany (In a 
narrowing of his portfolio; he was formerly Minister of 
Energy and Mines); 
 
-- State Secretary at the Ministry of Interior in charge of 
National Police and Public Security:  Desire Rasolofomanana 
(Newly created position). 
 
COMMENT: 
-------- 
 
¶2. (C) The two biggest surprises are the break with tradition 
in having both President and Prime Minister being from the 
high plateau; and the number of Ministers who were retained 
when Post expected a greater shake-up.  A few Ministries were 
combined or split; at first blush these changes seem 
reasonable.  Minister Radavidson's newly-focused Finance and 
Budget portfolio is a useful effort to improve woeful fiscal 
 
ANTANANARI 00000084  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
management.  Minister Randriarimanana, one of the Embassy's 
best contacts during his time at Agriculture, should be up to 
the task even though he is taking over a new mega-ministry. 
The split of Energy and Mining into separate Ministries 
assigns appropriate priority to each of these portfolios so 
vital to Madagascar's development. 
 
¶3. (C) From Post's perspective, the biggest disappointments 
were the retention of Defense Minister Behajaina and Justice 
Minister Ratsiharovala, both of whom have been relatively 
ineffective.  Post does not interpret the folding of Public 
Security into the Ministry of Interior to have any negative 
impact on police or security operations; the move seems 
administrative. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Fewer than half of the cabinet is from the coast; a 
point surely to be exploited by opposition leaders - none of 
whom were offered the olive branch of a cabinet position. 
The President will answer this criticism by saying 
competence, not origin, was his criterion for selection. 
Post will report septel the impact on U.S.-Malagasy 
relations, but the initial reaction is very positive with 
close and effective friends remaining in or moving to top 
policy posts.  END COMMENT. 
 
McGEE