While in United Nations-run refugee camps in Sudan, Omer worked as an interpreter.[8] This work led to suspicions of spying, and he was retained by authorities until the United Nations intervened.[9][8]
He arrived in New Zealand in 2008, through New Zealand's refugee quota.[10] Omer says that his time in New Zealand began with cleaning and scrubbing floors;[11] this period included working as a cleaner at Victoria University of Wellington where he would study and earn a Bachelor of Artsinpolitical science in 2016. Omer described working until 4am cleaning the university, then attending a lecture at 10am in a room that he had cleaned the night before.[12]
Omer has worked as a union organiser for E tū,[12] and as a community advocate,[11] including as chairperson of ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum.[13][4] For this work he was awarded an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian Award by the Wellington City Council in 2019.[14] Omer was also involved in advocating for a living wage, especially for cleaners at Victoria University of Wellington.[15]
Omer entered Parliament in the 2020 election.[2] He was placed 42nd on the Labour Party's party list,[11] and Labour won enough seats to allow him to enter Parliament with that ranking.[2][16]
Omer is New Zealand's first MP from Africa, and the second MP to have entered New Zealand as a refugee, after Golriz Ghahraman.[8][3] Following Jacinda Ardern's resignation as Prime Minister in 2023, Omer said that "Throughout the past five and a half years, she has led with decisiveness, empathy and kindness".[17]
In February 2023, Omer was one of four candidates vying for the Labour nomination in Wellington Central for the 2023 election after Grant Robertson decided to stand only on the party list.[18] He was successful and contested the electorate for Labour at the general election.[19]
During the 2023 election, Omer claimed that Labour had not abandoned its policy of introducing a capital gains tax. This was rebuffed by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who confirmed that Labour would not be introducing a capital gains tax if re-elected into government.[20] He contested the Wellington Central electorate and was defeated by Tamatha Paul by a margin of 6,066 votes.[21][22]
Omer expressed a desire to focus on racism, unequal opportunities, and issues facing low-paid workers during his time in Parliament.[8]
In December 2020, Omer joined Green Party MPs Golriz Ghahraman and Teanau Tuiono in pledging to form a new parliamentary Palestine friendship group to "raise the voices of Palestinian peoples in the New Zealand Parliament" during an event organised by the Wellington Palestine advocacy group to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.[23]
