Barkat Gourad Hamadou (born 1930) was the Prime Minister of Djibouti from 2 October 1978 until 7 March 2001.

Political career

Hamadou is a member of the Afar ethnic group

Afar people

The Afar , also known as the Danakil, are an ethnic group in the Horn of Africa. They primarily live in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in northern Djibouti, although some also inhabit the southern point of Eritrea.-Early history:...

 and was born in Dikhil Region

Dikhil Region

The Dikhil Region is one of the six Regions of Djibouti. The Region borders the Tadjoura Region to the north-west, the Arta Region to the north-east, the Ali Sabieh Region to the east, and Ethiopia to the west and south....

, in the southwest of Djibouti. Prior to Djibouti's independence, he was a member of the Senate of France; he was first elected as a Senator on 26 September 1965, and he was re-elected on 22 September 1974. After Djibouti became independent in June 1977, Hamadou served in the government as Minister of Health. President Hassan Gouled Aptidon

Hassan Gouled Aptidon

Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999.-Biography:...

 then appointed him as Prime Minister on 30 September 1978, and his first government was formed on 2 October 1978; in addition to serving as Prime Minister, Hamadou held the Ports portfolio in that government.

Hamadou was the first candidate on the candidate list of the ruling People's Rally for Progress

People's Rally for Progress

The People's Rally for Progress , is a political party in Djibouti. It has dominated politics in the country since 1979, initially under the rule of President Hassan Gouled Aptidon...

 (RPP) for the District of Djibouti in the December 1992 parliamentary election

Djiboutian parliamentary election, 1992

Parliamentary elections were held in Djibouti on 18 December 1992. They were the first elections following a referendum in September that reintroduced multi-party democracy, albeit with a limit of four parties, although they were boycotted by the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy...

. Following the election, Hamadou was reappointed as Prime Minister by Gouled on 4 February 1993, with a government composed of 18 ministers (including Hamadou). A peace agreement with the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy

Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy

The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy , is a political party in Djibouti. It is aligned with the interests of the Afar people who live in that country, although it has supporters residing outside of Djibouti....

 (FRUD), an Afar

Afar

Afar may refer to:*Afar people, ethnic group principally residing in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia*Afar Insurgency, alternative name for the Djiboutian Civil War of November 1991-December 1994*Afar Triangle, a geological depression near the Horn of Africa...

 rebel group, was signed in 1994; Hamadou played an important role in this agreement. A new government that included members of FRUD was formed on 8 June 1995. Hamadou remained Prime Minister in this government and was additionally assigned the development portfolio.

Hamadou was the first candidate on the RPP/FRUD candidate list for the District of Djibouti in the December 1997 parliamentary election

Djiboutian parliamentary election, 1997

Parliamentary elections were held in Djibouti on 19 December 1997. The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy, which had boycotted the last election, ran joint candidates with the ruling People's Rally for Progress. Together, they won all 65 seats in the National Assembly, with the PRP...

. After this election he was again reappointed as Prime Minister, with a 17-member government (including Hamadou), on 28 December 1997. After Gouled was succeeded by Ismail Omar Guelleh

Ismail Omar Guelleh

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is the President of Djibouti. He succeeded his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999. He is often referred to in the region by his initials 'IOG'....

 in May 1999, Hamadou was retained as Prime Minister.

Health problems and resignation

On the night of 9 March 2000, Hamadou was admitted to the French army hospital in Djibouti due to heart trouble. He was then moved to Paris, where he was hospitalized from March 2000 to October 2000. Although he was re-elected as Vice-President of the RPP in early 2001, he subsequently submitted his resignation as Prime Minister to President Guelleh on 6 February 2001 due to poor health. Guelleh accepted the resignation, and Hamadou was succeeded by Dileita Mohamed Dileita

Dileita Mohamed Dileita

Dileita Mohamed Dileita has been the Prime Minister of Djibouti since March 2001. He is the Vice-President of the main governing party, the People's Rally for Progress , and is the President of the governing coalition, the Union for a Presidential Majority .-Biography:Dileita was born in Tadjoura...

on 7 March 2001. Hamadou later resigned as RPP Vice-President due to his health and was succeeded in that post by Dileita on 3 July 2003. He was instead made an Honorary Member of the RPP Executive Committee.