 In 1991, Abdirahman immigrated from Somalia to the United States following the collapse of Barre's rule.He settled in Minnesota, where he became a community leader for the Somali American community in Minneapolis, as well as around the U.S.

Abdirahman died at a hospital in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, after being hospitalized for several months.His family announced his death on Monday, May 16, 2016.