Barkat Gourad Hamadou

Barkat Gourad Hamadou ( _ar. بركات غوراد حمادو) (born 1930 [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=17706 "Long-serving Prime Minister resigns"] , IRIN, February 6, 2001.] ) was the Prime Minister of Djibouti from October 2 1978 until March 7 2001.

Hamadou is a member of the Afar ethnic group"Nov 1978 - Cabinet Reorganization under New Prime Minister", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXIV, November, 1978 Djibouti, Page 29308.] and was born in Dikhil Region, 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 September 26 1965, and he was re-elected on September 22 1974. [ [http://www.senat.fr/senfic/barkat_gourad_hamadou58515k.html Page at French Senate website] fr icon.] After Djibouti became independent in June 1977, Hamadou served in the government as Minister of Health. President Hassan Gouled Aptidon then appointed him as Prime Minister on September 30 1978, and his first government was formed on October 2 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 (RPP) for the District of Djibouti in the December 1992 parliamentary election. [ [http://www.presidence.dj/LES%20TEXTES/decr0129pr92.htm "Décret n°92-0129/PR/INT Abrogeant et remplaçant le décret n°92-0124/PR/INT du 16 novembre 1992 portant publication des listes de candidats et ouverture de la campagne électorale pour les élections législatives du 18 décembre 1992."] , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, May 12, 1999 fr icon.] Following the election, Hamadou was reappointed as Prime Minister by Gouled on February 4 1993, with a government composed of 18 ministers (including Hamadou). ["Feb 1993 - Cabinet reshuffle Fighting", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 39, February, 1993 Djibouti, Page 39308.] [ [http://www.presidence.dj/LES%20TEXTES/decr0010pr93.htm "Décret n°93‑0010/PRE remaniant le Gouvernement Djiboutien et fixant ses attributions."] , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, February 4, 1993 fr icon.] A peace agreement with the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), an Afar 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 June 8, 1995. Hamadou remained Prime Minister in this government and was additionally assigned the development portfolio. [Christophe Farah, [http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Newsletters/menu_Hab5695.html "EX-REBELS IN DJIBOUTI'S COALITION GOVERNMENT"] , Reuters, June 9, 1995.]

Hamadou was the first candidate on the RPP/FRUD candidate list for the District of Djibouti in the December 1997 parliamentary election. [ [http://www.presidence.dj/LES%20TEXTES/decr0175pr97.htm "Décret n°97-0175/PRE abrogeant et remplaçant le décret n°97-0170/PRE portant publication des listes de candidats et ouverture de la campagne électorale pour les élections législatives du 19 décembre 1997."] , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, December 16, 1997 fr icon.] After this election he was again reappointed as Prime Minister, with a 17-member government (including Hamadou), on December 28 1997. [ [http://www.presidence.dj/LES%20TEXTES/decr0191pr97.htm "Décret n°97-0191/PRE portant remaniement des membres du Gouvernement et fixant leurs attributions."] , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, December 28, 1997 fr icon.] After Gouled was succeeded by Ismail Omar Guelleh in May 1999, Hamadou was retained as Prime Minister. [ [http://www.presidence.dj/page1229.html "Décret n°99-0059/PRE portant nomination des membres du Gouvernement et fixant leurs attributions"] , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, May 12, 1999 fr icon.] ["Djibouti: New president orders premier to remain in office, form cabinet", Radio Ethiopia external service (nl.newsbank.com), May 11, 1999.]

On the night of March 9 2000, Hamadou was admitted to the French army hospital in Djibouti due to heart trouble. ["Djibouti: Prime minister "hospitalized with heart problems", AFP (nl.newsbank.com), March 12, 2000.] 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 February 6 2001 due to poor health. ["Feb 2001 - DJIBOUTI", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 47, February, 2001 Djibouti, Page 43989.] Guelleh accepted the resignation, and Hamadou was succeeded by Dileita Mohamed Dileita on March 7. ["Mar 2001 - DJIBOUTI", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 47, March, 2001 Djibouti, Page 44040.] Hamadou later resigned as RPP Vice-President due to his health and was succeeded in that post by Dileita on 3 July 2003. [ [http://www.adi.dj/archives/adi0703/adi4402D030703.htm "Le chef de l’Etat préside les travaux de la Session ordinaire du Comité central du Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progrès (RPP)"] , ADI, 3 July 2003 fr icon.] He was instead made an Honorary Member of the RPP Executive Committee. [ [http://www.adi.dj/archives/adi0703/adi4403D030703.htm "Liste du nouveau Comité exécutif du Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progrès"] , ADI, 3 July 2003 fr icon.]

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