# British Somalis in public life

> British Somalis in public office and public life: the first Somali-heritage MP, an MEP, Lord Mayors, borough mayors, councillors, campaigners, writers and athletes.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/diaspora/british-somalis-in-public-life/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who are the British Somalis in public office?

Since 2009, British Somalis have served as borough mayors, Lord Mayors, councillors, a council leader, a Member of the European Parliament and, from October 2026, a Member of Parliament. This page lists them by office, then public figures by role. Background on the community is on the [United Kingdom](/en/diaspora/united-kingdom/) page.

## Is there a British Somali MP?

**Sagal Abdi-Wali** (Labour) won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October 2026 ([Camden Council, by-election results](https://www.camden.gov.uk/holborn-and-st-pancras-by-election-2026-results)). The seat had been held by Keir Starmer ([UK Parliament, by-election record](https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4105/election/560); [ITV News, 9 October 2026](https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-09/labour-wins-holborn-and-st-pancras-by-election-for-keir-starmers-seat)).

- **Result:** she won 12,292 votes, about 45%; Green Party leader Zack Polanski came second with 8,928, about 33% ([Dawan, October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somali-born-sagal-abdi-wali-wins-uk-parliamentary-by-election)). Camden Council gave turnout as 38.76% ([Camden Council](https://www.camden.gov.uk/holborn-and-st-pancras-by-election-2026-results)).
- **Sworn in:** she took her seat in the House of Commons in October 2026 ([Africanews, 13 October 2026](https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/13/somali-born-sagal-abdi-wali-sworn-in-as-londons-newest-mp/)). She is described as the first person of Somali origin and the first woman to represent the seat ([Muslim Network TV, 2026](https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/somali-refugee-sagal-abdi-wali-sworn-in-as-mp-taking-seat-keir-starmer-left-behind/)).
- **Background:** born in Somalia, she came to Camden as a child refugee; "Camden has been my home for 35 years," she said in May 2026 ([Camden Council, May 2026](https://news.camden.gov.uk/new-leader-and-cabinet-announced/)).
- **Council leader:** first elected a Camden councillor in 2022, she became leader of Camden Council on 20 May 2026, the borough's first Black woman leader (same source). One report called her the UK's first Somali council leader ([Muslim Network TV](https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/somali-refugee-sagal-abdi-wali-sworn-in-as-mp-taking-seat-keir-starmer-left-behind/)).
- **In her words:** "I want young people to know that their background does not determine the size of their dreams" ([Dawan, October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somali-born-sagal-abdi-wali-wins-uk-parliamentary-by-election)).

## Has a British Somali sat in the European Parliament?

**[Magid Magid](/en/people/magid-magid/)** (Green) was elected an MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber in May 2019 ([New Statesman, May 2019](https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2019/05/who-are-future-authors-britain-former-somali-child-refugee-heading-europe); [Horn Diplomat, 27 May 2019](https://www.horndiplomat.com/2019/05/27/magid-magid-becomes-first-somali-elected-to-european-parliament/)). He sat until the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magid_Magid)).

He said he was asked to leave the Parliament building on his first day in July 2019 ([The National, July 2019](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/magid-magid-muslim-mep-asked-to-leave-european-parliament-on-first-day-1.882308)). The Parliament said no member of its staff was involved ([Hiiraan Online, July 2019](https://hiiraan.com/news4/2019/July/164559/new_mep_magid_magid_asked_to_leave_european_parliament_building.aspx)).

## Which British Somalis have been mayors or Lord Mayors?

Borough and city mayors in England are chosen each year by fellow councillors; it is a civic, not executive, role.

| Name | Office | Year | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed Omer | Mayor of Tower Hamlets | 2009–10 | Described as Britain's first Somali mayor ([East London Advertiser](https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/captured-historic-moment-uk-s-first-somali-mayor-takes-office-3397920)) |
| Magid Magid | Lord Mayor of Sheffield | 2018–19 | Sheffield's first Somali-born and youngest Lord Mayor ([The New Arab, 19 May 2018](https://www.newarab.com/features/meet-sheffields-first-somali-lord-mayor-magid-magid)) |
| Rakhia Ismail | Mayor of Islington | 2019–20 | Holloway councillor since 2012 ([Islington Tribune, May 2019](https://islingtontribune.co.uk/article/mayor-a-role-model-for-somali-women)) |
| Abdi Aden | Mayor of Brent | 2022–23 | Stonebridge councillor since 2018 ([Brent Council, 18 May 2022](https://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=60774)) |
| Safiya Saeed | Lord Mayor of Sheffield | 2025–26 | The city's 128th Lord Mayor ([Sheffield City Council, 2025](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/news/2025/welcoming-safiya-saeed-new-right-worshipful-lord-mayor-sheffield)) |
| Faduma Mohamed | Mayor of Ealing | from 26 May 2026 | Southall West councillor ([Ealing News](https://www.ealing.news/news/new-mayor-of-ealing-pledges-borough-wide-unity/)) |
| Yassin Mohamud | Lord Mayor of Bristol | 2026–27 | Born in Mogadishu; first of Somali heritage in the role ([Bristol City Council](https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-the-lord-mayor/lord-mayor-of-bristol/current-lord-mayor)) |

- **Ahmed Omer** was the son of a merchant seaman ([East London Advertiser](https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/captured-historic-moment-uk-s-first-somali-mayor-takes-office-3397920)). The year comes from a list of the borough's mayors ([London Wiki](https://london.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Mayors_of_Tower_Hamlets)).
- **Magid Magid** came to Sheffield aged five after months in a refugee camp in Ethiopia ([The New Arab](https://www.newarab.com/features/meet-sheffields-first-somali-lord-mayor-magid-magid)).
- **Rakhia Ismail** came to Britain as a refugee in the 1980s ([Islington Tribune](https://islingtontribune.co.uk/article/mayor-a-role-model-for-somali-women)).
- **Safiya Saeed** (Labour, Burngreave) came to Sheffield in 1985 and is the city's second Lord Mayor of Somali heritage ([Hyphen, 3 June 2025](https://hyphenonline.com/2025/06/03/safiya-saeed-first-black-muslim-woman-lord-mayor-sheffield/)).
- **Faduma Mohamed** came to Southall aged 11 after fleeing war ([Ealing News](https://www.ealing.news/news/new-mayor-of-ealing-pledges-borough-wide-unity/)).
- **Yassin Mohamud** (Green) has represented Lawrence Hill ward since 2021 ([Bristol City Council](https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-the-lord-mayor/lord-mayor-of-bristol/current-lord-mayor); [Bristol Green Party](https://bristolgreenparty.org.uk/green-councillor-yassin-mohamud-to-be-next-lord-mayor-of-bristol/)).

## Which British Somalis sit on local councils?

Besides the mayors above, councillors of Somali heritage named in published sources include:

- **Bristol:** Hibaq Jama (Labour, Lawrence Hill), described as the city's first Somali councillor ([Bristol24/7, 2015](https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/somali-cllr-attacks-ukip-in-rousing-speech/)).
- **Newport:** Omar Ali won a 2013 by-election in Pill ward, thought to be the first councillor of Somali background in Wales ([WardheerNews, 2013](https://wardheernews.com/?p=14067)).
- **Manchester:** Mahadi Hussein [Sharif](/en/society/asharaaf/) Mahamed (Labour) has represented Moss Side since May 2019 ([Manchester City Council](https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=236)). The Big Issue describes him as the city's first Somali councillor ([Big Issue, 2024](https://bigissue.com/?p=237192)).
- **Liverpool:** Rahima Farah (Labour) won Toxteth in May 2023, the first Somali Muslim woman on the city council ([About Islam, 2023](https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/meet-first-somali-female-muslim-councilor-elected-in-liverpool/)). She won a national Community Champion award in November 2024 ([Liverpool Express, 21 November 2024](https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/council-leader-and-toxteth-councillor-both-scoop-national-awards/)).
- **Leicester:** in 2014 the city had no Somali councillors ([Open Society Foundations, 2014](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/somalis-leicester-summary-20140917_0.pdf)).

## Who has held public appointments?

**Nimco Ali** was appointed Independent Government Adviser on Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls on 9 October 2020 ([GOV.UK, October 2020](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fgm-campaigner-nimco-ali-appointed-as-tackling-violence-against-women-and-girls-adviser)). She held the post until 2022 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimco_Ali)). She said in 2022 that she "wouldn't feel comfortable" working under the new Home Secretary ([Yahoo News, 2022](https://news.yahoo.com/government-adviser-set-resign-saying-214133812.html)).

## Who are British Somalis in public life outside office?

**Campaigners**

- **Nimco Ali** co-founded Daughters of Eve in 2010 and The Five Foundation in 2019, both working to end female genital mutilation (FGM) ([The Five Foundation](https://thefivefoundation.org/nimco-ali-obe/)). See her [people page](/en/people/nimco-ali/).
- **[Leyla Hussein](/en/people/leyla-hussein/)** was appointed OBE in the 2019 Birthday Honours, with Nimco Ali, for work against FGM ([NPR via KCUR, 12 June 2019](https://www.kcur.org/2019-06-12/the-queen-honors-two-women-who-seek-to-end-female-genital-mutilation)). She said she thought hard about accepting because of Britain's colonial history (same source).

**Sport**

- **Sir Mo Farah**, born in Somalia, was knighted for services to athletics in the 2017 New Year Honours ([GOV.UK, New Year Honours 2017](https://gov.uk/government/news/new-years-honours-2017)). He won the 5,000 m and 10,000 m at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics ([St Mary's University, January 2017](https://stmarys.ac.uk/news/2017/01/honours-st-marys-alumni)). See his [people page](/en/people/mo-farah/).

**Journalism**

- **[Rageh Omaar](/en/people/rageh-omaar/)**, born in Mogadishu, was a BBC world affairs correspondent and later ITV News' international affairs editor ([RUSI](https://www.rusi.org/people/omaar); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rageh_Omaar)).

**Writing**

- **Warsan Shire** was London's first Young Poet Laureate ([Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poets/detail/warsan-shire)). See her [people page](/en/people/warsan-shire/).
- **Nadifa Mohamed**'s novel The Fortune Men was shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize ([Booker Prizes, 2021](https://thebookerprizes.com/media-centre/press-releases/the-2021-booker-prize-for-fiction-shortlist)). See her [people page](/en/people/nadifa-mohamed/).

**Business**

- **Abdirashid Duale** is chief executive of [Dahabshiil](/en/economy/hawala-and-money-transfer-companies/), the money transfer company founded by his father ([African Arguments, 2012](https://africanarguments.org/2012/02/making-money-in-somaliland-meeting-abdirashid-duale-ceo-dahabshiil-by-magnus-taylor/)). See his [people page](/en/people/abdirashid-duale/).

## Related pages

- [United Kingdom](/en/diaspora/united-kingdom/)
- [London](/en/diaspora/london/), [Bristol](/en/diaspora/bristol/), [Sheffield](/en/diaspora/sheffield/), [Manchester](/en/diaspora/manchester/), [Liverpool](/en/diaspora/liverpool/), [Cardiff](/en/diaspora/cardiff/), [Leicester](/en/diaspora/leicester/), [other UK cities](/en/diaspora/uk-other-cities/)
- [Somali Americans in public office](/en/diaspora/somali-americans-in-public-office/)
- [Somali Canadians in public life](/en/diaspora/somali-canadians-in-public-life/)
- [Somalis in public office in Europe](/en/diaspora/somalis-in-public-office-in-europe/)

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