Dr. Omar Bah, former Gambian Journalist and a prominent figure in Rhode Island, has announced plans to contest for a US Congress seat under the Democrats banner.
Bah relocated to the United States over a decade ago, and his announcement has taken many by surprise.
In a statement issued by Bah, who is the founder of the Refugee Dream Centre, he said:
“I wish to confirm that I plan to run for US Congress.
“When Congressman Langevin recently announced his retirement, I saw a great opportunity to once again manifest the amazing opportunities I have had in this country since my arrival here as a refugee.
“I will run as a Democrat, but my hope is to help in uniting the country, represent the diversity and experiences of people in this country, and to build and promote a moderate tone in Washington.
“There are numerous issues to tackle such as safe and affordable housing, healthcare, education, homelessness, crime, and climate change.
“I am not a career politician and, therefore, hope to help minimise the political polarisation and promote the interest of the American people, especially Rhode Islanders.
“I also hope to be a source of inspiration for folks from various ethnicities who might as a result have the audacity to try out the American Dream, and the possibilities abound.”
Omar Bah, a torture survivor and author, will be running for Congress along with many notably faces in Providence.
Bah is expecting to succeed Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District seat current occupier, US Representative James R. Langevin, a Democrat who has been in office for 22 years, and recently announced he won’t seek re-election this year.
Bah, 42, came to the US in 2007 after he was declared wanted by former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s regime.
In 2015, he established the Refugee Dream Center, a nonprofit post-resettlement refugee organization, which has been very instrumental in helping refugees’ resettlement in Rhode Island.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Rhode Island, a Master’s degree in public administration from Roger Williams University, a Master’s degree in counseling psychology and a doctorate in leadership psychology from Williams James College in Boston.
