Boudjemaa Talai (Arabic: بوجمعة طلعي, romanized: Būjamaʿa Ṭalaʿī; 17 May 1952 – 6 August 2022) was an Algerian engineer, corporate executive, and politician who served as the Algerian Minister of Transport and Public Works from 2015 to 2017. A member of the National Liberation Front, Talai also served as a member of the People's National Assembly from 2017 to 2019.
Boudjemaa Talai | |
|---|---|
بوجمعة طلعي | |
 | |
| Member of the People's National Assembly | |
| In office 2017–2019 | |
| Constituency | Annaba |
| Minister of Transport and Public Works | |
| In office 16 May 2015 – 6 April 2017 | |
| President | Abdelaziz Bouteflika |
| Preceded by | Amar Ghoul |
| Succeeded by | Abdelghani Zaalane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 May 1952 Cheffia, French Algeria |
| Died | 6 August 2022 (aged 70) Algiers, Algeria |
| Political party | National Liberation Front |
| Alma mater | |
Biography edit
Early life and career edit
Talai was born on 17 May 1952 in the town of Cheffia in French Algeria.[1] He attended the University of Annaba, graduating in 1978 with a degree in civil engineering with a specialization in construction materials. From 1978 until 1980, Talai worked as a computer engineer for the Algerian National Iron and Steel Company at the El Hadjar Complex steel plant.[2] From 1980 until 1984, Talai attended University of Karlsruhe in West Germany on a scholarship, graduating with a postgraduate certificate in construction infrastructure.[3][4]
Following his graduation from the University of Karlsruhe, Talai worked as an engineer at various Algerian construction firms. From 2000 until 2003, Talai was the CEO of Batimetal, an Algerian engineering firm. He was also on the board of directors of several other companies.[3]
Political career edit
On 16 May 2015, Talai was appointed by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the president of Algeria, to be the Minister of Transport and Public Works, replacing Amar Ghoul, who was appointed to another ministry.[2] Talai held this role until 6 April 2017. During his tenure as minister, Talai oversaw the modernization of Algeria's mining railway infrastructure.[5] Following the 2017 Algerian legislative election, Talai was elected to represent the Annaba constituency as a member of the National Liberation Front.[6][7] He resigned from parliament sometime before June 2019.[8]
On 23 September 2019, Talai and several other former ministers from the Bouteflika government were arrested following a corruption scandal which involved businessman Ali Haddad. This scandal was part of the cause for the 2019 Algerian protests. On 7 July 2020, Talai was convicted of abuse of office; he was sentenced to three years in the Koléa prison and fined 500,000 dinars.[9][10]
Talai was released early from prison on 1 June 2022. Talai died on 6 August 2022 at the age of 70 in the Mustapha Pacha hospital in Algiers from a kidney disease.[4][11]
References edit
- ^ Ismaël, O. (6 August 2022). "Décès de l'ancien ministre des Transports, Boudjemaa Talai" [Former Transport Minister Boudjemaa Talai dies]. Algerie-Expat (in French). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b "بوجمعة طلعي يستلم مهامه على رأس وزارة النقل" [Boudjemaa Talai takes over his duties at the head of the Ministry of Transport]. Ennahar TV (in Arabic). 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b "MINISTRE DES TRANSPORTS" [Minister of Transport]. Algerian Ambassador to France (in French). Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b "L'ancien ministre Boudjemaa Talai est décédé" [Former Minister Boudjemaa Talai has died]. La Patrie News (in French). 6 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Aguinaldo, Jennifer (9 June 2016). "Algeria upgrades mining railway". Middle East Economic Digest. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "LES MEMBRES DE L'APN 8 ème LEGISLATURE" [Members of the APN 8th Legislature]. People's National Assembly (in French). Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "TALAI Boudjema". People's National Assembly (in French). Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "البرلمان يشرع في إجراءات رفع الحصانة عن الوزير الأسبق"بوجمعة طلعي" – الحدث : البلاد" [Parliament begins procedures to lift the immunity of former Minister Boudjemaa Talai]. El Bilad TV (in Arabic). 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "18 ans de prison pour Haddad, 12 ans pour Ouyahia et Sellal" [18 years in prison for Haddad, 12 years for Ouyahia and Sellal]. Liberté (in French). 1 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Zammouchi, Zinou (1 June 2022). "بوجمعة طلعي وزير الأشغال العمومية يغادر سجن القليعة" [Boudjemaa Talai, Minister of Public Works, leaves Kolea prison]. Bordj News (in Arabic). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "بوجمعة طلعي وزير النقل السابق في ذمة الله" [Boudjemaa Talai, the former Minister of Transport, passed away]. Tariq News (in Arabic). 6 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.