VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAN #0283/01 1080455
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180455Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2342

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000283 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E-MBEYZEROV, INR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV MA
SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR'S TRANSITION CABINET PARTIALLY FORMED 
 
REF: A) 09 ANTANANARIVO 267 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Madagascar's transition cabinet remains 
incomplete, with only 12 ministers named (out of a planned 25), and 
the critical post of Minister of Defense still empty.  Transition 
President Andry Rajoelina remains evasive on further appointments, 
and will likely wait until the full cabinet is assembled before 
announcing other key positions at the Ministries of Health, Labor, 
Energy/Mining, Transportation, and others.  Of the current 12 
ministers, 6 come from the highland Merina or Betsileo ethnic 
groups; creating better ethnic balance could be a factor as TGV 
fills out the rest of his cabinet.  Following are brief biographical 
notes on the 12 current ministers. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Rajoelina confirmed the first group of 12 ministers on 
March 17, the day of the coup, in Decree 2009/002.  This act made 
official the cabinet he had announced in February on Place du 13 Mai 
during the demonstrations.  The only discrepancy was his pick for 
Minister of Defense, General Raonenantsoamampianina, who was deemed 
unacceptable by the newly-empowered military, fresh from its mutiny 
only ten days  prior.  At present, it appears that the military is 
maintaining its veto power over any nominees for the position. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Prime Minister: Mr. Roindefo Zafitsimivalo MONJA, from 
political party MONIMA, based in Tulear. He is the son of the late 
Jaona Monja, a well-known national figure from the 1971 uprising, 
and was one of Rajoelina's negotiators during the failed talks in 
February. His nomination as Prime Minister was a surprise for many, 
as he did not have the national profile of some of Rajoelina's other 
allies.  His nomination was well received in Monja's native Tulear, 
and other southern regions of the country.  Monja also occupies the 
position of Minister of Defense, pending the appointment of a 
permanent replacement.  He reportedly studied in France and the 
United States, and speaks English, German, Russian, and Spanish in 
addition to Malagasy and French.  Monja is from the Antandroy ethnic 
group, dominant in Tulear. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO, 
son of prominent political figure (former President of the National 
Assembly) Pastor Richard Andriamanjato, from political party 
AKFM-Fanavaozana.  He previously served as Minister of Post and 
Telecommunications under Ratsiraka from 1993 to 2002, as well as 
General Coordinator in charge of Administrative, Financial, 
Economic, Infrastructure and Town Planning Affairs in the Commune of 
Antananarivo under Rajoelina.  He was also one of Andry Rajoelina's 
negotiators during the UN-led talks, and a close advisor throughout 
this crisis.  He was the first "HAT official" to take a trip abroad 
to participate in the Permanent Council of the Francophonie, during 
which he advocated for Madagascar and the High Transition Authority. 
 Andriamanjato speaks English and Russian as foreign languages, and 
studied in Moscow for several years in the 1980's.  Andriamanjato is 
from the Merina ethnic group, as are HAT President Rajoelina and 
former President Ravalomanana. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Minister of Finance and Budget: Mr. Benja Joas 
RAZAFIMAHALEO, elder brother of late politician and economist Herizo 
Razafimahaleo, from the Leader-Fanilo party.  He is better known in 
the business community than in politics, as the former General 
Manager of SACIMEM, a tobacco company.  Among his first acts as 
Minister were announcements concerning Tiko's alleged outstanding 
debt to the Malagasy treasury of 1.2 trillion ariary (USD 600 
million) in unpaid taxes and customs duties, and the future sale of 
the controversial presidential aircraft "Force One II". 
Razafimahaleo is from the Betsileo ethnic group, dominant in 
Fianarantsoa and the southern highlands. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister of Commerce and Industry: Mr. Jean Claude 
RAKOTONIRINA, former independent Deputy in the National Assembly 
from Vohipeno (in the southeast), and president of the Parliamentary 
Group for Democracy and Development (GPDD).  He has notably declared 
that state subsidies on such basic goods as oil and rice are just 
temporary measures taken to alleviate the current high cost of 
living, but has failed to address concerns about the sustainability 
of these measures and their effects on local markets.  Rakotonirina 
is from either the Antesaka or Antefasy ethnic group, dominant in 
the southeast near Farafangana. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Minister of Justice: Ms. Christine Harijaona RAZANAMAHASOA 
is the former President of the Tulear Court of Appeals, and a member 
of the High Council of the Magistracy.  She coordinated the 
controversial release of 48 alleged "political" prisoners (reftel 
A).  Among her first promises as minister is the creation of a High 
Court of Justice, able to judge high officials including the 
President of the Republic.  She was among the members of the High 
Magistracy Council to announce an arrest warrant against President 
Ravalomanana and other members of his government, although no actual 
warrant has been produced to date.  Razanamahasoa is from Tulear. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Minister of Environment, Water and Forests: Mr. Mariot Jean 
Florent RAKOTOVAO is a former senior staffer at Sherritt, a Canadian 
mining operation near Tamatave.  His first official act was the 
celebration of World Water Day on March 22, during which he 
announced the imminent inauguration of 100 public fountains to 
improve access to drinkable water.  This ministry was previously 
combined with tourism, which has now become a separate entity (see 
paragraph 11); the "water" portfolio has rejoined environment and 
forests after being separated into its own ministry in 2008. 
Rakotovao is from the Besimisaraka ethnic group, dominant on the 
east coast near Tamatave. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Minister of Internal Security: Mr. Remy Sylvain Organes 
RAKOTOMIHANTARIZAKA was previously a General Controller in the 
National Police.  He is also a former Deputy from Tulear Province, 
and a TIM party Senator, appointed by President Ravalomanana.  He 
was instrumental to the TGV movement when they invaded ministries in 
February, and served as the TGV negotiator to the security forces 
and ministry officials.  Rakotomihantarizaka is from the Betsileo 
ethnic group. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Minister of National Education: Mr. Julien RAZAFIMANAZATO 
is from the Malagasy Diaspora in France and a member of TGV Europe. 
He is the president of the Association for the Interest and Defense 
of Madagascar's National Unity, based in France.  This association 
is thought to be close to political exile Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, and 
was part of his diaspora support committee during Rajaonarivelo's 
presidential bid (from abroad) in 2006.  He was among the first TGV 
ministers - before the coup - to make official visits to the 
provinces.  His first act as minister was and remains controversial: 
 to announce that French will be the language of instruction 
nationwide instead of Malagasy, and to put planned Ravalomanana's 
educational reform on hold.  This decision has endangered a sizable 
World Bank education program, also supported by other donors, and 
Razafimanazato may have to reconsider in the face of expected severe 
budget shortfalls.  Razafimanazato is from is from a coastal ethnic 
group. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Minister of Tourism: Mr. Gilbert Harisoa RAHARIZATOVO 
is a former Deputy of Antananarivo VI, former chief editor and 
political columnist of national media outlets TVM and RNM, and 
former director of TVM.  Raharizatovo is from the Merina ethnic 
group. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Minister of Town Planning and Decentralization: Hajo 
Herivelona ANDRIANAINARIVELO is a former two-term independent mayor 
from the Commune of Ankadinandriana (30km north of Tana).  The 
Commune of Ankadinandriana became a model commune after completing 
its "Communal Development Plan" in 2002, garnishing praise from the 
international community present at the time.  His first statement as 
Minister implied that there cannot be effective decentralization in 
Madagascar without a clear land titling and ownership policy. 
Andrianainarivelo is from the Merina ethnic group. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Minister of the Interior and Administrative Reform: Mr. 
Masimana MANANTSOA, formerly chief of staff in the same ministry. 
He was also president of the Orientation Committee of the Libanona 
Ecological Center, and director of the "Civil Protection Unit" at 
the Ministry of the Interior.  Manantsoa is from Tulear. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Minister of Post, Telecommunications and New Technology 
Development: Mr. Augustin Razafinarivo ANDRIAMANANORO, previously 
the spokesman of TGV Europe and an active member of the Malagasy 
diaspora in France.  He is a "new information technology" expert, 
and co-founder of popular France-based Malagasy website 
Madagate.com.  He is also a partner of French technology company 
Osmosis Business Solutions (OBS), which has an affiliate in 
Antananarivo.  He now serves as the spokesperson of the HAT 
government, after serving as a technical advisor to then-Mayor Andry 
Rajoelina in 2008.  Andriamananoro is from the Merina ethnic group. 
 
 
MARQUARDT