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Bristol’s next lord mayor has been announced as Green councillor Yassin Mohamud, who will be the first person from Somalia to hold the role.
Mohamud, who moved to England over 20 years ago, has represented Lawrence Hill since 2021.
He will be sworn in in May, replacing Conservative councillor Henry Michallat who will become deputy lord mayor.
A mainly ceremonial role, the lord mayor chairs full council meetings and carries out numerous public engagements.
They include the Remembrance Sunday parade and the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Appeal for Children, which gifts food vouchers, toys and clothes to hundreds of young Bristolians.
The lord mayor carries out 800-odd engagements during their year-long term, from parades to fishing for plastic – photo: Paul Driver/Hubbub
“It’s a deep honour to be stepping into the role,” Mohamud said, calling it “both a personal journey and a responsibility to the communities that have shaped me.
“Like many people in our city, my understanding of politics did not begin in a formal setting; it came from lived experience.
“Over time, I became increasingly aware that some neighbourhoods, like Lawrence Hill, were facing persistent inequalities yet often felt overlooked. I decided to step forward [and] be part of shaping solutions.”
As the incoming lord mayor, Mohamud will be taking on a role that rotates between the four main political parties at City Hall; currently the Greens, Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
“As I prepare to take on the role of lord mayor, my focus is clear,” he said.
“I want to use this platform to bring people together, and to ensure that every community feels recognised and valued.
“Above all, I remain grounded in the same principles that brought me into public service: to listen, to serve, and to work with the people of Bristol to build a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
