London : Cllr Mohamed of Somaliland origin announced new mayor of Southwark

Cllr Abdul Mohamed

Cllr Abdul Mohamed was announced as the new Mayor of Southwark at Council Assembly last night. Cllr Mohamed was Deputy Mayor last year, and replaces outgoing Mayor Cllr Althea Smith.

Cllr Mohamed was born in Kenya's rift valley to Somaliland parents. His grandfather had immigrated to Kenya as a soldier with the King's African Rifles camel corp.

He is married to Caroline McDonald, an Australian, and they have one son Farah Mohamed (16) They have lived in Peckham for 25 years.

Cllr Mohamed graduated from Leeds University in Yorkshire where he trained with the former National Coal Board as a mining engineer. He then left to work as a mining engineer in Africa, where he spent some time in the Copper belt in Zambia.

He has also worked in inner city regeneration since the late 80s. He has worked for several London boroughs carrying out regeneration work, including Haringey and Lambeth Council, on various large inner city estates such as Broadwater Farm and the Angel town estate.

He has been an active trade union member, being shop steward (UNISON) for his Public Service workplace. He has been one of the Faraday ward councillors since May 2002.

Cllr Mohamed, a previous Cabinet member, has been a Chair of the Walworth Community Council and the Democracy Commission and has served on the New Deal for Communities and Creation Trust Boards.
The new Mayor is a keen cyclist who champions cycling in Southwark. In his new role he has committed to making less use of the Mayoral car and more use of public transport and his bicycle.

Cllr Mohamed said:"It is an honour for me to be elected Mayor and I am really looking forward to representing Southwark in this important role. As Deputy Mayor I was fortunate enough to meet many local people who never failed to impress me with their sense of community and compassion for the most vulnerable in society.

"They are the epitome of the fairer future philosophy this council subscribes to. I hope that I can continue to work with everyone in Southwark to celebrate the love we share for a corner of London that is forever England while also being home to the nations of the world."

At the Annual Meeting of Council Assembly on 22 May 2013, the new Mayor announced that his chosen charity for the year will be the Evelina Children's Hospital.

Cllr Sunil Chopra, ward councillor for Nunhead, was appointed as Deputy Mayor.

Source : Southwark Council