By Horn Africa News
MOGADISHU — Norway’s Somali diaspora has made history after two Somali-origin politicians secured seats in the country’s parliament, marking a milestone for immigrant representation in Europe.
Marian Abdi Hussein, who first entered the Storting in 2021, was re-elected for a second term. She will now be joined by Hashim Muhyidin Abdi, a 21-year-old Labour Party candidate from Østfold, who becomes the youngest Somali-Norwegian ever elected to the national legislature.
Hashim, the son of Somali refugees who settled in the city of Fredrikstad, ran on a platform centered on youth empowerment, education, and fighting poverty.
“The danger is that Østfold has become Norway’s capital of exclusion and poverty, something I have experienced myself. I want every child to start life on an equal footing, regardless of where they live or their parents’ background,” he said in remarks to local media following his victory.
His win has been described as the culmination of a swift political rise. Abdi joined the Labour Party’s youth wing at just 14 years old, inspired by his father, Mohodin Omar Abdi, a taxi driver and local councillor in Fredrikstad, who instilled in him the values of integration and justice. Political analysts say his election reflects both a generational shift in Norwegian politics and the Somali community’s growing influence in civic life.
Meanwhile, preliminary results confirmed that the Labour Party has retained power at the national level, ensuring Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will remain in office. His government has drawn international attention for its outspoken criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, a foreign policy stance that has helped shape Norway’s global profile in recent months.
The election of Hussein and Abdi marks the first time Somali-Norwegians have held two seats simultaneously in parliament, a development widely celebrated among diaspora communities across Scandinavia and beyond.
