Gourad Hamadou, Barkat (1930- )

Djibouti politician, prime minister 1978-2001. Barkat Gourad Hamadou, a member of the nationalist People's Progress Assembly, had served as prime minister since 1978, and was reappointed by President Hassan Gouled Aptidon in 1987. In Djibouti, where ethnic balance was essential in both external relations and internal politics, the choice of Gourad, an Afar, by Gouled, an Issa Somali, was a means of assuring a continued political balance and representing the country's two main ethnic groups in government. Power appeared to be shared, with ministry appointments following a formula designed to maintain ethnic balance.

Gourad was a former member of the French Senate, and served as Djibouti's minister of health before being appointed prime minister. He was also minister of ports 1978-87, and minister of national and regional development 1987- .