Khalida Toumi

Minister of Culture

Date of Birth: 13/03/1958
Place of Birth: Ain Bessem

Biography: Teacher, Mathematics, 1984-91; Founding Member, President, first independent women's association, 1985; Founding member, Vice-Chair, Algerian League of Human Rights; National Advisory Council, 1992-93; MP, Algiers, 1997; Vice-President, National Commission on Education Reform, 2000-01; Minister of Communication and Culture, 2002 to date.

Once a tourchbearer of liberal values, now a target for her former friends as a fierce campaigner for the Boutef way and one of the President's inner circle. Toumi was known as an anti-Islamist feminist, and was a familiar face on French television, before being appointed Communications and Culture Minister in 2002. She replaced Mohammed Abbou amidst hopes that, as government spokesperson, she may help to calm Kabylie.