VZCZCXRO9447
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0508/01 1921020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111020Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9667
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1118
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1376

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000508 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W (D. BANKS) 
PARIS FOR D'ELIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PROFILES OF NEW MINISTERS 
 
REF: A) Cotonou 494; B) Cotonou 440 
 
COTONOU 00000508  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. This is the third in a series of telegrams concerning the newly 
formed government of President Boni Yayi.  Reftel B provided a list 
of ministers.  Reftel A provided profiles of ten new ministers who, 
along with returning Minister of State in Charge of National Defense 
N'Douro and Minister of State in Charge of the Economy Koupaki, will 
be the key interlocutors for the Embassy and USG on policy and 
program issues in our bilateral relations.  This telegram provides 
profiles of the remaining seven new ministers of the Government of 
Benin. 
 
 
MINISTER OF DECENTRALIZATION, LOCAL AUTHORITY AND PLANNING 
---------------------- 
 
¶2. Mr. Issa Dmonl Moko is a high ranking civil servant. He served 
as Prefect of the Department of Mono. Prior to his appointment, he 
was the Director of the Local Authorities Office (Maison des 
Collectivits Locales). He is one of the Benin's recognized experts 
on governmental decentralization issues. 
 
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 
---------------------- 
 
¶3. Ms. Vicentia Bocco is the former Director of President Yayi's 
electoral campaign and is considered to be one of his close 
protgs. By profession, she is a radiologist, and is considered to 
be one of the best radiologists in Benin.  Prior to her appointment, 
she was serving as Chief of Staff in the office of President Yayi. 
In her first speech, she called for cooperation from the government, 
the educational sector, and the private sector to advance Benin's 
economy and social development. 
 
MINISTER OF SECONDARY EDUCATION TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING 
---------------------- 
 
 
¶4. Ms. Bernadette Sohoudji Agbossou is a graduate of the University 
of Montreal in Canada. Prior to her appointment, she taught at the 
National School for Administration and Magistrates of the University 
of Abomey Calavi. During a handover ceremony held at the Minister of 
Education, she said that she would build upon the successes of her 
predecessor. 
 
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTION OF NATURE 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. Ms. Juliette Biaou Koudnoukpo is a forestry and water resources 
engineer by profession. Prior to her appointment, she worked on the 
Land and Natural Resources Management Program in Cotonou and as a 
Program Officer at the office of the World Conservation Union (UICN) 
in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. As a newcomer to politics, she is not 
well known to the public, but is respected for her technical 
expertise. 
 
 
MINISTER-DELEGATE FOR COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN 
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
---------------------- 
 
¶6. Mr. Dsir Adadja has a degree in engineering from the 
Polytechnic School of Montreal, Canada. His specialty is 
telecommunications, and he was formerly manager of the Regional 
African Satellite Communications (RASCOM) project that has as its 
goal the establishment of a satellite communications system for 
Africa.  He also served as Telecommunications and New Technology 
advisor to President Yayi. Prior to his current appointment, he was 
the Director of the Benin's telecommunications parastatal, Bnin 
Telecoms. In his first speech, he noted that the Ministry of 
Communication and Information Technology has initiated several 
complex and important projects, and also expressed his commitment to 
combating fraud and illegal activities in the telecommunications 
sector. 
 
 
MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE RELATIONS WITH INSTITUTIONS, SPOKESMAN OF 
THE OVERNMENT 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. Dr. Alexadre Houtondji is a medical doctor by profession, ad 
has served as Director of Public Health for th Department of 
Atlantique and Littoral. He was oe of the founding members of 
President Yayi's poltical alliance "Cowrie Force for an Emerging 
Benn" (FCBE), and served as the spokesman for this grup. As such, 
 
COTONOU 00000508  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
he frequently appeared on Beninese television and radio explaining 
and defending the President's position on various issues.  In 2006, 
he also served for a time as President Yayi's Chief of Staff. 
 
MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND LEISURE 
---------------------- 
 
¶8. Mr. Ganiou Soglo was born on January 4, 1961 in Paris, and is the 
youngest son of former President Nicephore Soglo. He is a business 
executive and was elected twice as deputy of the National Assembly 
as a candidate of the political party Renaissance du Bnin (RB), the 
political party of his father. He ran unsuccessfully for President 
in the March 2006 election. His appointment was somewhat 
controversial within the RB, as some resented that fact that former 
President Soglo proposed his son for this position rather than other 
candidates some believed were more qualified. He is known to have a 
passion for soccer, having managed a local soccer team for years. In 
his first speech, he emphasized the importance of sports and youth 
activities, and asked for the support of all of Benin's citizens. 
 
WAGONER