Barkat Gourad Hamadou (; 1 January 1930"Long-serving Prime Minister resigns", IRIN, 6 February 2001. – 18 March 2018) was a Djiboutian politician and diplomat who was Prime Minister of Djibouti from 1978 to 2001.
Political career Prior to Djibouti's independence, Hamadou served in the French Senate; he was first elected as a senator on 26 September 1965 and was re-elected on 22 September 1974.Page at French Senate website . 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 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."Nov 1978 - Cabinet Reorganization under New Prime Minister", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 24, November 1978, Djibouti, page 29,308.
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."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, 12 May 1999 . Following the election, Hamadou was reappointed as prime minister by Gouled on 4 February 1993, with a government composed of Hamadou and 17 other ministers."Feb 1993 - Cabinet reshuffle Fighting", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 39, February 1993, Djibouti, page 39,308."Décret n°93‑0010/PRE remaniant le Gouvernement Djiboutien et fixant ses attributions" , Journal officiel de la République de Djibouti, 4 February 1993 . 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 8 June 1995. Hamadou remained prime minister in this government and was additionally assigned the development portfolio.Christophe Farah, "Ex-rebels in Djibouti's coalition government", Reuters, 9 June 1995.
Hamadou was the first candidate on the RPP/FRUD candidate list for the District of Djibouti in the December 1997 parliamentary election."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, 16 December 1997 . After this election he was again reappointed as prime minister, with a 17-member government (including Hamadou), on 28 December 1997."Décret n°97-0191/PRE portant remaniement des membres du Gouvernement et fixant leurs attributions" , Journal officiel de la République de Djibouti, 28 December 1997 . After Gouled was succeeded by his nephew Ismaïl Omar Guelleh in May 1999, Hamadou was retained as prime minister."Décret n°99-0059/PRE portant nomination des membres du Gouvernement et fixant leurs attributions" , Journal officiel de la République de Djibouti, 12 May 1999 ."Djibouti: New president orders premier to remain in office, form cabinet", Radio Ethiopia external service, 11 May 1999.
On the night of 9 March 2000, Hamadou was admitted to the French army hospital in Djibouti due to heart trouble."Djibouti: Prime minister "hospitalized with heart problems", AFP, 12 March 2000. He was then moved to Paris, where he was hospitalized from March 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 his declining health."Feb 2001 - Djibouti", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 47, February 2001, Djibouti, page 43,989. Guelleh accepted his resignation and Hamadou was replaced by Dileita Mohamed Dileita on 7 March 2001."Mar 2001 - Djibouti", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 47, March 2001, Djibouti, page 44,040. Following his resignation as prime minister, he was made ambassador to the Holy See in December 2001. In 2003, Hamadou resigned as RPP vice-president and was also succeeded in that post by Dileita."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 .
Personal life and death Hamadou, an ethnic Afar, was born in Tew'o, Dikhil Region, in the southwest of Djibouti. He died 18 March 2018 in Paris, aged 88. President Guelleh offered condolences to his family.
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