27-year-old Nadia Mohamed, a Somali-American who was elected mayor two months ago in US state of Minnesota has been sworn in.
She made history as America’s first Somali-American elected mayor by voters in the city council of St. Louis Park in Minnesota.
Nadia Mohamed’s election made her the city’s first Black mayor in 170 years, and the second known Somali mayor in U.S. history.
The first known Somali-American mayor is Deqa Dhalac who was appointed by the councillors of the city of South Portland in the state of Maine in 2021.
Ms Mohamed, though is the first Somali-American mayor to be elected by the public.
She won her election with 58% of the vote cast last November, beating Dale A: Anderson, a retired banker.
Mohamed is the youngest and the first Muslim and black elected mayor in her city. Ms Mohamed was first elected to the city’s council in 2019 at the age of 23.
It’s official! pic.twitter.com/jwActsjmvs
— Nadia Mohamed (@Nadia_Mohameds) January 3, 2024
He family first moved to Minnesota from Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp when she was 10. They had fled the war in Somalia.
“Well, my identity is one part of my story, right? I am proud of everything that I am, but I don’t want that to be the only story. I don’t want that to [be] where people stop their conversation,” Ms Mohamed told Minneapolis-based KARE TV station after her election.
During the swearing in ceremony of Mayor Mohamed, I had the pleasure of taking pic with all my political daughters: Mayor @Nadia_Mohameds, Rep @IlhanMN n senator@ZaynabMMohamed.
A challenge to u mention a state that is politically inclusive as MN.
Proud #Minnesotan.#Gabdhoguul pic.twitter.com/I3EKJU9cfx— Habon Abdulle, PhD (@HabonDaud) January 3, 2024
Among her top priorities as a mayor she listed was public safety and affordable housing.
Source: Africafeeds.com
