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DE RUEHJB #0513/01 1971617
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P 161617Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0426
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000513 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C AND INR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017 
TAGS: PHUM PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES CABINET CHANGES 
 
REF: A. BUJUMBURA 422 
 
     ¶B. BUJUMBURA 453 
     ¶C. BUJUMBURA 376 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Moller for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  President Nkurunziza announced new 
appointments in seven ministries, and announced the creation 
of a new Ministry, the Ministry of Regional Integration and 
Cooperation.  They mark the third round of new appointments 
in the Nkurunziza government since early June 2007.  Two of 
Burundi's largest political parties chose not to participate 
in the new government, notably the Burundian Front for 
Democracy (FRODEBU) and the Union for National Progress 
(UPRONA).  In his appointments the President included two 
former members of the government, former President of the 
National Assembly Immaculee Nahayo, and former Minister of 
Communication, Ramadhan Karenga, who was tapped to head the 
new ministry.  Nahayo and Karenga are strong supporters of 
ousted CNDD-FDD chairman Hussein Radjabu, and their return to 
the government could serve as political cover for the 
President should Radjabu's posible conviction for "intent to 
disrupt national security through an armed rebellion" create 
a backlash among his other supporters.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza announced new 
ministerial appointments July 13 in seven of the twenty-three 
Ministries within his cabinet.  He also announced the 
creation of a new ministry, the Ministry of Regional 
Integration and Cooperation.  This announcement marks the 
third round of changes in President Nkurunziza's 
administration since early June 2007, following changes first 
in his senior staff (Reftel A) and then in the Presidency of 
the Constitutional Court and six of Burundi's seventeen 
governorships (Reftel B). 
 
¶3. (U) Burundi's second and third largest political parties, 
the Burundian Front for Democracy (FRODEBU), and the Union 
for National Progress (UPRONA) announced that they would not 
particpate in the new government,with UPRONA even going so 
far as threatening July 14 to dismiss the First 
Vice-President (from UPRONA) for co-signing the President's 
decree announcing the new government.   Dr Yves Sahinguvu, of 
UPRONA, stated that he was not consulted before being 
nominated, and would not serve in the government.  He further 
said that to accept the appointment from the President under 
these circumstances would be a violation of the UPRONA 
party's internal rules, which he refused to do. 
 
¶4. (U) The Government of Burundi offered no official reason 
for the ministerial changes.  In a meeting with leaders of 
the three major parties on July 10, reported in the media to 
have lasted no longer than five minutes, Nkurunziza took 
nominations for potential candidates put forth for the widely 
anticipated cabinet changes.  According to reports in the 
media, the Burundian Front for Democracy (FRODEBU) did not 
put forward candidates for the cabinet.  Parties that 
collected more than 5% of the votes in the last general 
election are entitled to representation in the government, 
but are not required to participate. Positions in the 
cabinet, as directed by the Constitution, are allocated 
according to party affiliation, but the president of the 
republic is allowed to appoint Ministerial positions as he or 
she wishes. 
 
 
¶5. (U) The new appointments are as follows: 
 
-- Ministry of Finance: Madame Clotilde Nizigama, formerly 
the Administrative Director of the Burundian Agency of 
Execution of Works in the Public Interest (ABUTIP).  Nizigama 
is a member of the National Council for the Defense of 
Democracy - Forces for the defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD). 
She replaces Madame Denise Sinankwa (CNDD-FDD). 
 
-- Ministry of Commerce and Industry: Madame Estella 
Nicayenzi, formerly worked for Socit Burundais de 
Financement (SBF), one of Burundi's leading banks. Nicayenzi 
is a member of CNDD-FDD.  She replaces Jean Bigirimana 
(CNDD-FDD). 
 
-- Ministry of Public Works and Equipment: Joseph 
Hasabamagara, formerly held the position of Deputy member of 
the CNDD-FDD.  Hasabamagara replaces Potame Nizigire 
(CNDD-FDD). 
 
-- Ministry of Transportation, Post, and Telecommunications: 
Philippe Njoni, formerly the Principal Councilor in the 
office of the First Vice-President. Njoni is a member of the 
Union for National Progress (UPRONA). He replaces Marie 
Goreth Nizigame (UPRONA). 
 
-- Ministry of Public Health: Dr. Yves Sahinguvu was 
appointed, but withdrew his name from consideration.  He is a 
member of UPRONA, and would have replaced Dr.Triphonie 
Nkurunziza (PARENA). 
-- A new Minister of Public Health was appointed July 16, but 
Embassy is unable at this time to confirm the correct 
spelling of her name. 
 
-- Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Security: 
Daniel Kinigi, formerly manager in charge of public 
enterprises in the Ministry of Public Function, Labor, and 
Social Security. Kingi is a member of the Movement for the 
Citizen's Reconciliation (MRC).  He replaces Juvenal 
Ngogwanabusa (MRC). 
 
-- Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights, and Gender: 
Immaculee Nahayo, formerly the President of the National 
Assembly.  Nahayo is a member of the CNDD-FDD.  She replaces 
Francoise Ngendahayo (MSP-Inkinzo). 
 
-- Ministry of Regional Integration and Cooperation: Ramadhan 
Karenga, formerly the Minster of Information, Communications, 
Relations with the Parliament, and Spokesman for the 
Government. Karenga is a member of the CNDD-FDD.  This is a 
newly created cabinet ministry. 
 
¶6. (C) Comment.  It is not yet clear why the President made 
these changes in his cabinet at this time, as there is little 
change along party lines.  It is worth noting, however, the 
return of two former highly-placed members of the government, 
the former President of the National Assembly, Immaculee 
Nahayo, and former Minister of Communications, Ramadhan 
Karenga.  Each of them are well known as loyal supporters of 
ousted CNDD-FDD party president Hussein Radjabu, currently in 
prison awaiting trial for "intent to disrupt national 
security through an armed rebellion." (Reftel C) Nahayo and 
Karenga, both members of the CNDD-FDD, were reported to have 
received "strong and sustained applause" when their names 
were announced at the July 16 swearing-in ceremony for the 
new members of the government.  If, through these two 
appointments,  President Nkurunziza can share in some of that 
"glow", he benefits politically.  In addition,  the 
President's appointment of these two popular supporters of 
Radjabu could serve as political cover should Radjabu's 
possible conviction create a backlash among his other 
supporters. 
 
7.(C) Indeed, many here believe that Karenga is, perhaps, 
Radjabu's staunchest supporter in the government.  One 
long-time Burundian observer of the political scene here 
noted that, since Radjabu's arrest, funds from Muslim donors 
outside Burundi have shrunk considerably.  He suggests that 
Karenga's return to a prominent position within the 
government could be a signal of goodwill to those supporters, 
and may serve to refresh a dried-up source of much-needed 
donations. The new ministry that he will head, Regional 
Integration and Cooperation, is a timely addition to the 
government, considering Burundi's recent entry into the East 
African Community, an organization important to Burundi's 
future, and comprises countries with large Muslim 
communities.  Karenga's standing within that community, and 
his closeness to the former CNDD-FDD chairman, could 
partially explain his return to the government.  End Comment. 
MOLLER