He was a refugee – now he’s Lord Mayor of Bristol

12 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAlastair McKeeBristol

Bristol’s next Lord Mayor says he wants to bring “unity, working together and helping each other” to the role when he takes office.

Yassin Mohamud, a Green city councillor for Lawrence Hill, is being sworn in at City Hall later. A refugee from Somalia, he has lived in the St Jude’s area of Bristol for 15 years and has represented his ward since 2021.

Mohamud said he entered public service “to listen, to serve, and to work with the people of Bristol” and to help “build a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive”.

He will take over from Conservative councillor Henry Michallat.

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Mohamud came to Bristol 20 years ago from Somalia, to join his family who was already living in the city.

He said he was made to feel welcome, working first as a volunteer then gaining a degree at the University of Plymouth before working in various public sector roles, including for Bristol City Council.

“When you come as a refugee to this country and are starting a new life, it’s not easy. There are housing issues, work opportunities – all of it was challenging,” he said.

“One opportunity that helped me was immediately when I came here, I had someone who was guiding me. Community is important when you’re settling.

“Everywhere I’ve worked, people have been welcoming to me… [and] I am proud to be a Bristolian; my children were born in Bristol,” he said. “We are a Bristol family.”

He said his own challenges regarding housing, education and employment, and the support he received, had motivated him to help others.

Through his community and voluntary work, he became motivated to do more and got involved in local government.

Mohamud said his background as a refugee, his experience as a member of the black and minority ethnic community, and his work representing one of Bristol’s more deprived areas would shape his time as Lord Mayor.

“Unity is the biggest priority for the city, working with all the parties and for all our communities,” he said.

As Lawrence Hill councillor, he played a key role in supporting residents when Barton House was evacuated in November 2023 after “major structural faults” were found that risked the building collapsing.

In his role as local ward councillor, Mohamud supported residents and stood up for their rights. He said some of the families who were evacuated were still experiencing trauma.

“I hope we can learn from our mistakes, technical and administrative,” said Mohamud, adding that the experience had tested his trust in the way the city is run – something he wants to improve.

The Lord Mayor of Bristol is a largely ceremonial role that rotates between the Green Party, Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

The post involves chairing full council meetings and representing the city at civic events.

These include the Remembrance Sunday parade and the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Appeal for Children, which provides food vouchers, toys and clothing to hundreds of young Bristolians.

Looking ahead to the role, Mohamud frequently returns to his big theme: supporting the residents of the city’s more deprived areas, many of whom arrived as refugees.

“They are no longer refugees, they are Bristolians and are part of the city,” he said.

“They can be anyone they want to be: as doctors, engineers, Lord Mayor.”

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Bristol City CouncilRefugees and asylum seekersBristolSomaliaGreen Party (England and Wales)