President inaugurates his new government

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso announced his new government on 18 august and held the first meeting with his new ministers on Tuesday. "The President of the Republic insisted on the fact that we must intensify the fight against corruption; focus on the improvement of our education system, which had once been one of the best in Africa; rehabilitate the public health system; develop the agricultural potential of Congo in order to meet our own food needs; and mobilise all possible efforts to create employment for young people..." said the minister of communication and government spokesman, Alain Akouala, after the meeting. Twelve members of the newly appointed government will retain their portfolios from the transitional government or assume new duties, while 12 others - notably former Defence Minister Itihi Ossetoumba Lekoundzou and former Finance Minister Mathias Dzon - have been dropped. "Judging by the core of the new government, it can be said that there is no will for change and openness. No member of the opposition is represented at its heart," Herve Ambroise Malonga, a candidate in the 10 March presidential elections that saw Sassou-Nguesso claim more than 85 percent of the total votes, told IRIN in reaction to the appointments. Sassou-Nguesso also took the opportunity to reach out to those involved in a rebellion that has plagued the Pool region since late March. "I am requesting all youths involved in Ntoumi's rebellion to abandon this folly and return to [the capital,] Brazzaville. I pledge to guarantee their security," Sassou-Nguesso told Radio France Internationale on Tuesday. Fighting erupted when so-called Ninja militias attacked several government military positions in Pool, the government said. However, Ninja representatives said the clashes were provoked when they discovered government plans to arrest their leader, the Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi. Some observers, however, were sceptical of Sassou-Nguesso's sincerity. "Is there really a will to bring peace to the Pool region when one advocates a policy of violence, forgetting that violence always breeds violence and feeds on hatred?" asked Malonga, accusing the Congolese authorities of practising "the politics of exclusion". "With regard to the situation in Pool, a true dialogue is needed, and without which Congolese politics will never move forward," said Roger Bouka Owoko, head of communications for the Observatoire congolais des droits de l'homme, a national human rights group. "In a true democracy, there are no political exiles. In the crisis of the Congo and Pool, all politicians share responsibility. There is no "good" on one side and "bad" on the other." For the complete new government list, see "Actualite Quotidienne", then "Voici le nouveau Gouvernement de la Republique du Congo" at http://www.congo-site.cg/. In addition to this list, Aime Emmanuel Yoka was later named director of the office of the president with Firmin Ayessa being named the assistant director and minister-delegate.