OBV Graduate Omar Ali makes Welsh political history

Omar Ali's recent election has marked a watershed in Welsh political history as Ali becomes the first British Somali councillor in Wales.

After years of community engagement, Councillor Ali is excited to be serving the Pillgwenlly, or Pill, ward of the Newport City Council. Elected last November, Councillor Ali filled the seat of Ron Jones who recently passed away after representing the Pill area for many decades.

A 2008 graduate of Operation Black Vote’s National Assembly for Wales Shadowing Scheme, Councillor Ali appreciates the work of the organization.

He says the scheme allowed him to,

better understand how the democratic process worked, especially regarding how the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities can be better represented.”

With Councillor Ali elected, there are now four BME councillors holding office in Newport.

Passionate about improving society, Councillor Ali has been active in his community for over two decades.

He previously worked for the Communities First Programme, which is funded by the Welsh government and seeks to alleviate the effects of poverty. Councillor Ali was also a caseworker for clients at Displaced People in Action, a charity assisting asylum seekers and refugees.

Councillor Ali believes these experiences provided him with the knowledge on how to create links with the local government to achieve his goals.

Reflecting on his tasks in the past few months, Councillor Ali emphasized how the job requires dedication and time-commitment. While in office, he hopes to add to the accomplishments of those before him:

It’s been busy and I am working hard on behalf of the people to represent the ward effectively.”

His priorities include dealing with everyday issues in the ward, ranging from collecting rubbish on the streets and parking, to anti-social behaviour and street prostitution. With so many shops and businesses in the city centre, he is working towards encouraging even more growth and prosperity..

One of Councillor Ali’s main concerns is the lack of political involvement of the BME community, which makes up 50 percent of his ward. He is disappointed that although the BME community is politically conscious, people are not always aware of how to translate that into political action.

On election day, Councillor Ali discovered a lot of the minority groups were not registered to vote, although their large number would significantly influence the results. He is hoping to overcome these barriers for the next election by making sure households and individuals have the necessary forms and the assistance to fill them out.

He also hopes to inspire young people to run for office and encourage them to become more active having an input into the decisions made about their area.

His wish is for people from different backgrounds in the ward to work together, partnering across the public and private sector, to implement real change in the community.

Francine Fernandes, Deputy Director for OBV, who managed the National Assembly for Wales Shadowing Scheme said:

Omar has become a political trail blazer in Wales and his election is truly a source of inspiration for individuals across the UK. The Somali community have contributed and been part of Welsh society since the 1800s. Therefore, through Omar's election, they now will also have the opportunity to formally contribute to the Welsh political landscape. "

Well done Omar and we look forward to charting your success.

Nilay Tuncok