Former refugee becomes New Zealand’s first African MP

An Eritrean former refugee has become New Zealand’s first African MP following Labour Party’s biggest victory in 50 years.

Ibrahim Omer during campaigns Ibrahim said his win was “for the low paid workers” and “former refugees”.

He fled Eritrea in 2003 into a refugee camp in neighbouring Sudan and later resettled in New Zealand where he worked as a cleaner at Victoria University.

He studied at the university while working as a cleaning supervisor and got involved in politics while there.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s party won enough seats to allow Ibrahim to be in parliament.