St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed of Minnesota, United States, arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday, where she was received at Aden Adde International Airport by Somali government officials and other dignitaries.

Speaking briefly to journalists upon her arrival, Mayor Mohamed expressed her happiness at returning to Somalia, describing the visit as an emotional homecoming after nearly a decade away from the country.

“I am very happy to be back in my motherland, Somalia. The last time I visited was in 2016,” she said, adding that she was impressed by the visible changes and development she witnessed in Mogadishu since her previous visit.

She praised the progress made in the capital over the past ten years while encouraging continued investment in infrastructure, public services, and economic development to improve the lives of Somali citizens.

Nadia Mohamed made history in November 2023 when she was elected mayor of St. Louis Park after securing 58.4% of the vote, becoming one of the youngest mayors elected in the United States. Her victory was widely celebrated by Somali communities both in North America and across the Horn of Africa.

Born in Somalia before relocating to the United States as a child, Mohamed has become one of the most prominent Somali-American public officials.

Her election has been viewed as a significant milestone for immigrant and refugee communities, highlighting the growing political participation of Somali-Americans in U.S. public life.

Her visit to Mogadishu comes as Somalia continues to strengthen ties with its global diaspora, whose contributions through investment, humanitarian support, skills transfer, and public service remain an important pillar of the country’s reconstruction and development.

Observers say visits by senior diaspora leaders help reinforce these connections while encouraging greater international engagement with Somalia.