Immigration and Refugee Resettlement of the East African Community in Minnesota
One of the first questions people ask when they learn about Minnesota’s large East African population — particularly Somalis and Oromos — is, “Why Minnesota?” With its long winters, freezing temperatures, and heavy snowfall, Minnesota may seem like an unlikely destination for people from the Horn of Africa. Yet for thousands of East African families, the state offered something more important than warm weather: opportunity, stability, and community.
Article by Khalid Moalim
Minnesota’s history has long been shaped by newcomers. German, Swedish, and Italian immigrants helped build the state during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Later, Vietnamese and Hmong refugees established vibrant communities after the Vietnam War. In the late twentieth century, Somalis and Oromos became part of that continuing story.
Many East Africans arrived in Minnesota after fleeing civil war, political persecution, and famine. Some first sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Kenya before being resettled in the United States. According to Minnesota Compass, approximately 80,000 Somalis live in Minnesota, with more than three-quarters residing in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The state is also home to an estimated 40,000 Oromo residents.
Although Minnesota’s climate differs dramatically from East Africa’s, economic opportunities, strong social services, and growing community networks made the state an attractive place to settle.
Why Minnesota Became Home
For many Somalis, migration patterns were shaped by community networks and word-of-mouth communication.
Historically, Somali society relied heavily on oral traditions to preserve culture and knowledge. Songs, poetry, folklore, religious teachings, family histories, and community news were passed from generation to generation. This tradition also played a role in spreading information about opportunities in the United States.
According to writer Ahmed Ismail Yusuf, a group of Somali refugees living in South Dakota during the early 1990s struggled to find stable employment. Eventually, some found work at a meat-packing plant in Marshall, Minnesota, about 150 miles southwest of Minneapolis. News of those opportunities quickly spread through Somali social networks across the country. As word traveled, more Somali families relocated to Minnesota in search of jobs, affordable housing, and a lower cost of living.
The Oromo migration story is somewhat different. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, the first recorded Oromo residents in Minnesota were Tasissa Moti and Teferi Fufa, who came to attend college. Both graduated from the University of Minnesota and helped establish an early Oromo presence in the state.
Minnesota’s strong social-service infrastructure also played a major role in attracting East African families. Refugee resettlement programs, educational opportunities, and community support services made the transition easier than in many other states. Combined with Minnesota’s reputation for hospitality, these factors encouraged additional Somali and Oromo families from across the United States to relocate to the Twin Cities.
From Cedar-Riverside to Karmel Mall
Cedar-Riverside became one of the earliest centers of East African life in Minneapolis during the late 1980s and 1990s. Affordable housing, public transportation, nearby social services, and proximity to the University of Minnesota made it a natural landing place for many newcomers.
Over time, grocery stores, restaurants, clothing shops, cafés, and community organizations transformed the neighborhood into what many came to call “Little Mogadishu.” The area also became home to Oromo, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and other East African communities, creating one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the region.
As families became more established, many moved to other neighborhoods throughout Minneapolis and its suburbs. Businesses expanded with them.
One of the clearest examples of this growth is Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis. More than a shopping center, Karmel Mall has become one of the largest East African commercial hubs in North America. Its hallways are lined with clothing boutiques, bookstores, cafés, travel agencies, beauty salons, grocery stores, jewelry shops, and restaurants serving customers from across the Twin Cities and beyond.
For many visitors, Karmel Mall offers an opportunity to experience everyday community life—shopping for traditional clothing, sharing Somali tea, browsing imported goods, or gathering with family and friends over lunch.
Together, Cedar-Riverside and Karmel Mall represent different chapters of the same story. One reflects the community’s early settlement and adaptation, while the other showcases its growth, entrepreneurship, and enduring presence throughout Minneapolis.
Economic Contributions
Minnesota’s Somali and Oromo communities have become increasingly important contributors to the state’s economy.
Their impact extends beyond participation in the workforce. East African residents are business owners, consumers, employers, investors, and community leaders. According to economist Dr. Bruce Corrie of Concordia University, Minnesota’s East African community generates approximately $500 million in household income annually and contributes roughly $67 million in state and local taxes.
As the population has grown, so has its economic influence. It is estimated to contribute $8 billion to the state’s economy. East African-owned businesses have created jobs, revitalized commercial corridors, and expanded opportunities in industries ranging from transportation and retail to healthcare and technology.
Today, the community’s contributions demonstrate how immigrant and refugee populations have become an integral part of Minnesota’s economic fabric, helping drive growth while strengthening local neighborhoods and regional markets.
Institutions That Anchor Community Life
Beyond businesses and restaurants, East African Minneapolis is sustained by institutions that strengthen community life and foster long-term success.
One notable example is Masjid Dar Al-Hijrah, established in 1998 in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. As one of the first Somali-founded mosques in Minnesota, it serves as both a spiritual center and a community gathering place, providing religious services, educational programs, and support networks for Somali Muslims.
Nearby churches serve Oromo, Ethiopian, and Eritrean Christian communities, reflecting the religious diversity found throughout East Africa and within Minnesota itself.
Organizations such as the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, the Oromo Community of Minnesota, and the African Development Center have also played critical roles in supporting education, workforce development, civic engagement, and entrepreneurship.
According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, organizations like these are essential to successful refugee integration, helping families move from arrival to stability, opportunity, and long-term community participation.
From the apartment towers of Cedar-Riverside to the bustling corridors of Karmel Mall, Minnesota’s East African communities have reshaped the cultural and economic landscape of the state. What began as a story of displacement and resettlement has become a story of entrepreneurship, community building, and belonging. Today, Somalis, Oromos, Ethiopians, Eritreans, and other East African groups are not simply newcomers to Minnesota—they are an essential part of its identity.
