AGI Profiles: Aminata Touré

Hannah Scott

Halle Foundation/AGI Intern

Hannah Scott is a spring 2025 Halle Foundation research intern at the American German Institute. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with minors in Public Policy and German at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include foreign policy, immigration and migration policy, minority groups within Germany, and German-American politics.

Hannah is an alumna of two immersive study abroad programs in Germany. At the Goethe-Institut in Freiburg, she studied German language and sustainability, designing a solar water tank research and application project. In Berlin, she attended Humboldt University, where she completed a multimedia research project exploring Berlin’s evolving social landscape from the Wende to the present, combining video storytelling and written analysis. Her studies also included German art, film, and twentieth century history, which enhanced her understanding of Germany’s cultural and historical transformations.

Hannah is dedicated to exploring the intersections of culture and policy to address global challenges, with a focus on fostering the dynamic German-American relationship, reflecting shared values, historical ties, and forward-thinking collaboration.

Deputy Minister-President and Minister of Social Affairs, Youth, Family, Senior Citizens, Integration and Equality of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Born to refugee parents and now one of the youngest politicians in Germany, 32-year-old State Minister of Social Affairs for Schleswig-Holstein Aminata Touré has made history as the first Afro-German woman to serve in a ministerial role in a state government in Germany. As an advocate for social reform, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights, youth protection, gender equality, and refugee rights, Touré has accomplished many feats within German politics.

Political History

Aminata Touré became a Green Party member in 2012 during her time at the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, where she studied Political Science and French Philology. She was a spokesperson for the Green Youth and then, from 2013 to 2017, was spokesperson for the Schleswig-Holstein Green Party’s working group on migration and refugees. From 2014 to 2017, Touré served as research assistant to member of the Bundestag Luise Amtsberg. From 2016 to 2017, she served as a State Executive Board member, or an assessor, for the Schleswig-Holstein Green Party state office. She ran for a seat in the Schleswig-Holstein Landtag in 2017 but was not elected. She joined the state parliament in 2017 when she replaced Monika Heinold, who had been named state Finance Minister. From 2019 to 2022, Touré was Vice President of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament, becoming the first Afro-German woman to achieve such an accomplishment in a state parliament in Germany.

Following the June 2022 state elections in Schleswig-Holstein, the Greens and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) entered a governing coalition. Under this coalition, Touré serves as the State Minister for Social Affairs, Youth, Family, Senior Citizens, Integration, and Equality, making history as the first Black woman ever to hold a ministerial position in a German state. In August 2024, she became  Deputy Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein following the retirement of Deputy Minister-President and Finance Minister Monika Heinold. Lawyer and judge Dr. Silke Schneider replaced Heinold as Schleswig-Holstein’s Finance Minister.

Collaborators

Touré has built her career upon the importance of collaboration within the Greens and with other parties. One of her most prominent collaborators is former Schleswig-Holstein Finance Minister Monika Heinold. Touré has spoken about the mutual trust and values that shaped their working relationship, stating in 2021, “In the past four years we have worked together with confidence, especially in areas such as the financing of women’s shelters, the implementation of the state action plan against racism, or humanitarian reception programs.” Their successful partnership led them to campaign side-by-side as the Green Party’s top duo for the 2022 state elections after she was named Heinold’s co-Spitzenkandidatin (co-lead candidate). Despite more than a twenty-year age gap, the two worked productively in tandem. With Touré’s progressive perspectives and Heinold’s financial credibility, the two were a successful duo. Their campaign resulted in a second-place victory, gaining 18 percent of the vote ahead of the Social Democrats (SPD). This election resulted in her appointment as Minister of Social Affairs in Schleswig-Holstein.

Touré further demonstrates her coalition-driven approach to governance through her work with Schleswig-Holstein Minister-President and CDU member Daniel Günther. Despite differences on issues such as asylum, immigration, and integration, Touré and Günther have successfully promoted joint initiatives that reflect the priorities of the CDU and the Greens. The 2022–2027 CDU-Green coalition agreement is a key example of this cooperation. As Integration Minister, she helped shape policy compromises emphasizing “orderly migration” while promoting targeted immigration incentives and labor market goals for skilled workers in Schleswig-Holstein.

Controversy

In 2023, Touré removed State Secretary Marjan Samadzade from her position following Samadzade’s commenting on a social media post openly criticizing Israel after the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack. Politicians from the SPD, Free Democrats (FDP), and South Schleswig Voters’ Association (SSW) criticized how Touré handled the situation, accusing her of not properly documenting case communications. The matter went as far as SPD and FDP members proposing a Missbilligugsantrag (formal motion of censure) against Touré after discovering that her government-issued phones were auto-deleting key messages vital to the dismissal case. In response to the criticism she faced around State Secretary Samadzade’s dismissal, Touré said, “My house and I answered the committee’s questions and submitted documents at every stage of the procedure.” She also expressed a commitment to further striving to achieve justice in future matters.

Policy Positions

Touré’s main policy focus areas are anti-racism and LGBTQ+ initiatives, integration and migration, gender equality, and family and child care reforms. In 2017, she pushed for reforms to improve integration programs for skilled-working asylum seekers. In 2023, Touré co-authored a migration and security package to integrate refugees into the labor market. A daughter of refugees from Mali, she has utilized her position in parliament to push back on racism within Germany. In 2024, Touré promoted Schleswig-Holstein’s State Action Plan Against Racism, led by the Ministry of the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing, and Sports. The plan introduced anti-racism strategies across various public institutions, including healthcare facilities, schools, and police training programs. It also established a central space for individuals to report or discuss discriminatory practices and introduced stronger criteria to promote diversity in public service fields. Beyond the State Action Plan Against Racism, Schleswig-Holstein has initiated many other anti-racism initiatives, including an anti-racism contact point within the police force for those affected by racially motivated acts. One of her most hot-topic initiatives is removing the word ‘race’ from Article 3, Section 3 of German Basic Law. Touré views the term as outdated, stemming from times of colonization and divisive to society. In an interview with Tagespiegel, she conveyed that “It is important to me to replace the term ‘race’ with racist attribution. The term ‘race’ is precisely the cause of the problem because it pretends false fact—namely that there are several and not one human race.” She is dedicated to fighting for anti-discriminatory initiatives to end prejudice in Germany.

Touré is an active supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. She opposed gender-exclusionary initiatives for LGBTQ+ individuals introduced by the AfD (Alternativ für Deutschland), which aims to outlaw gender-affirming language in public service fields. In a speech in June 2020, she criticized the AfD’s stance and showcased the importance of non-exclusionary language. “I do not want to pay more attention to this attempt at provocation. Instead, I will explain why we Greens have long insisted on using gender-appropriate language and do so ourselves. We use the asterisk. This is just one of many ways to make women and non-binary people linguistically visible.”

Improving accessible outreach services for migrants is a special cause to Touré, as she has experienced these trials firsthand. One of the key missions of her ministry position was to expand support to those seeking refuge, and she has so far accomplished just that. In 2024, the Schleswig-Holstein government adopted a twenty-six-point migration and security document. The plan includes better integration services for refugees, such as language programs and increased streamlining of asylum processes.

She is also outspoken about policies to close the gender pay gap and women’s rights in public service. In 2024, she announced plans in the state parliament to amend The Schleswig-Holstein Equality Act, which “promotes the equality of women in public service.” She calls for the amendment to include an increased representation of genders within committee settings. In 2021, Touré and other key female members of the Green Party advocated for revised Article 3 of the German Basic Law to improve not only gender equality but also equality for all scrutinized classes in Germany.

Finally, Touré has been hands-on in providing reform and improved conditions for childcare and parent aid in Schleswig-Holstein. In 2024, her ministry introduced a ten-point childcare package that outlined objectives such as fair childcare financing between the state and municipalities. The plan will not “require an increase in parental contributions,” easing financial barriers for parents. The package also expands training opportunities for staff and reduces administrative burdens for daycare providers, making the childcare profession more attractive. These objectives aimed to revamp existing structures and improve access to quality, reliable childcare for families across Schleswig-Holstein. 

Rising Trajectory and Possible Federal Future

What could be in the cards for Touré? She has not voiced ambitions to seek a seat in the federal government. She may consider a federal role in the future, especially if the Green Party looks to a new generation of leaders following the February 2025 German federal election. The Greens lost 3.1 percent of the vote share compared to 2021 and were left with 85 seats in the Bundestag. As a rising star of the Greens, Touré is a valuable asset; her intersectional position allows her to connect with multiple groups. She has repeatedly been outspoken about supporting young people, women, and the LGBTQ+ community, leading to her success and rumored future trajectory. Her connection with younger voters, especially through social media, could present a chance for the Green Party to restructure its communication strategy and better understand the priorities of the public on various issues like anti-discrimination, migration and integration policy, and equitable access to education. 

Social (Media) Status

Touré has harnessed the power of social media to promote her message and connect with those she represents on a personal level. She utilizes social media platforms like Instagram and Bluesky to expand her reach and engage directly with the public. She addresses pressing issues and facilitates open dialogue by hosting question-and-answer sessions. Additionally, she offers her followers an authentic glimpse into her life, like sharing her hair routine. Displaying political advocacy, personal transparency, and relatability enables her to connect with younger and first-time voters, making politics more accessible to an extended audience. Her outreach has garnered over 100,000 Instagram followers and has gained attention from acclaimed magazines; Touré was featured on the December 2022 cover of Vogue Magazine-Germany. She strategically uses her media presence to shed light on her political agenda.

Conclusion

State Minister Aminata Touré is redefining the face of high-level leadership within the country. She has repeatedly shown that she is dedicated to marginalized communities. As Germany’s Greens regroup after their lackluster 2025 election performance, she is a tangible symbol of what the Party should strive for. As Touré continues to break barriers, her name is one to watch in the future of the Green Party.