Barkat Gourad Hamadou

Barkat Gourad Hamadou (Arabic: بركات غوراد حمادو‎) (born 1930[1]) 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[1][2] and was born in Dikhil Region, in the southwest of Djibouti.[1] 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.[3] 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.[2]

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.[4] Following the election, Hamadou was reappointed as Prime Minister by Gouled on 4 February 1993, with a government composed of 18 ministers (including Hamadou).[5][6] 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.[7]

Hamadou was the first candidate on the RPP/FRUD candidate list for the District of Djibouti in the December 1997 parliamentary election.[8] After this election he was again reappointed as Prime Minister, with a 17-member government (including Hamadou), on 28 December 1997.[9] After Gouled was succeeded by Ismail Omar Guelleh in May 1999, Hamadou was retained as Prime Minister.[10][11]

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.[12] 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,[1] he subsequently submitted his resignation as Prime Minister to President Guelleh on 6 February 2001 due to poor health.[1][13] Guelleh accepted the resignation,[1] and Hamadou was succeeded by Dileita Mohamed Dileita on 7 March 2001.[14] Hamadou later resigned as RPP Vice-President due to his health and was succeeded in that post by Dileita on 3 July 2003.[15] He was instead made an Honorary Member of the RPP Executive Committee.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Long-serving Prime Minister resigns", IRIN, 6 February 2001.
  2. ^ a b "Nov 1978 - Cabinet Reorganization under New Prime Minister", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXIV, November, 1978 Djibouti, Page 29308.
  3. ^ Page at French Senate website (French).
  4. ^ "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 (French).
  5. ^ "Feb 1993 - Cabinet reshuffle Fighting", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 39, February 1993 Djibouti, Page 39308.
  6. ^ "Décret n°93‑0010/PRE remaniant le Gouvernement Djiboutien et fixant ses attributions.", Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, 4 February 1993 (French).
  7. ^ Christophe Farah, "EX-REBELS IN DJIBOUTI'S COALITION GOVERNMENT", Reuters, 9 June 1995.
  8. ^ "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 (French).
  9. ^ "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 (French).
  10. ^ "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 (French).
  11. ^ "Djibouti: New president orders premier to remain in office, form cabinet", Radio Ethiopia external service (nl.newsbank.com), 11 May 1999.
  12. ^ "Djibouti: Prime minister "hospitalized with heart problems", AFP (nl.newsbank.com), 12 March 2000.
  13. ^ "Feb 2001 - DJIBOUTI", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 47, February, 2001 Djibouti, Page 43989.
  14. ^ "Mar 2001 - DJIBOUTI", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 47, March 2001 Djibouti, Page 44040.
  15. ^ "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 (French).
  16. ^ "Liste du nouveau Comité exécutif du Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progrès", ADI, 3 July 2003 (French).
Preceded by
Abdallah Mohamed Kamil		 Prime Minister of Djibouti
1978–2001		 Succeeded by
Dileita Mohamed Dileita