Fatma Oussedik

Algerian feminist and anti-colonial activist who pioneered women's rights during the Algerian War of Independence

Fatma Oussedik (1920-1998) was a pivotal figure in Algeria's fight for independence and women's empowerment. Born in Oran during French colonial rule, she joined the National Liberation Front (FLN) in 1954 and became one of the first women to organize clandestine networks that supplied weapons and intelligence to rebel fighters. Her leadership in the FLN Women's Movement helped recruit over 30,000 female participants in the war effort. After independence in 1962, she co-founded the Algerian Women's National Union, establishing literacy programs and agricultural cooperatives that transformed rural communities. Her 1968 book Women and Revolution remains a foundational text in postcolonial feminist theory. Oussedik's legacy is preserved in the Encyclopedia Britannica and the Al Jazeera documentary series celebrating her contributions.