Today, 20 June is World Refugee Day and is marked to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world. Radio Tamazuj caught up with and sounded out a former child refugee, Bishop Anthony Poggo, who is currently, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser on Anglican Communion Affairs.
Bishop Pogo made headlines recently after being named as the next Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion.
Below are edited excerpts:
Q: Who is Bishop Anthony Pogo?
A: My Name is Anthony Poggo and I was born in Kajo Keji (Central Equatoria State). When I was less than one year old, my parents took me and my siblings to Uganda and we became refugees there. We came back to Southern Sudan in 1973 and I went to Kajo keji Intermediate School. I then went to Loka where my father was teaching and did my secondary education and went to the University of Juba. So, that is me. I graduated and began working for Scripture Union where I did Christian ministry until the time I joined ACROSS after which I was elected Bishop of Kajo Keji.
I was brought up in a Christian family and I call myself a cradle Anglican which means I have always known myself as an Anglican because my father was an Anglican priest. When I began to understand things, I thought I was a Christian and then someone told me you do not become a Christian through your parents but have to make an individual decision and this is why I came to learn the phrase ‘God only has children he does not have spiritual grandchildren’ which means you do not become a child of God through your parents but have to take a step of faith through your own accord and that I think is a very important thing we need to be aware of.
Q: What are some of the challenges you faced as a refugee and how did you overcome them”
A: One of the lessons that my father taught us is the need to work hard and he kept insisting that because it is a Biblical fact. My father kept reminding us of a scripture that says “He who does not work should not eat” and so hard work had always been inculcated in my life and the life of my siblings. So, I continue to do that and I put in the best in whatever I do.
As refugees, you have to also work hard and compete with the people.
One of the challenges of being a refugee is sometimes you get blamed for things that you have not done. When the crime rate goes up, they would say it is these people who have come from outside, the refugees. You get blamed for many of these things but that should not worry you and just carry on being focused.
Do not also look at the free things that you get as a refugee. The provision of relief food has sometimes also been a disadvantage to our people. I remember in the 90s, someone (refugee) was asking why they were being asked to dig and wondered if it had stopped raining at the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. So, you are now depending only on the UNHCR. Recently I heard that WFP is suspending food distribution in South Sudan because of a lack of funds and I think we should as a nation find ways to work hard.
Q: How did you overcome the trauma of being a refugee?
A: I have always had hope and I am more of an optimist. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel and I think that is what is more important. Let us always be positive and know that whatever we do, God will bless it. I think for people who are in the diaspora you have to work very hard.
When I started traveling, I found out that many South Sudanese in the diaspora are working very hard to put food on the table so wherever you are, you have to work very hard. The reality is we have to work hard even to build our nation. It is very sad to see that we depend on neighboring countries for food that we would grow ourselves. If our infrastructure was improved, we will see that some of the foods that we get from Uganda would come from Yambio and Yei.
Q: You recently visited Kajokeji. What can you say about the current situation there momentarily?
A: The current situation there is that people are waiting for the implementation of the peace agreement. Many of them are aware that the peace has been signed but there is insecurity as a result of misbehavior by some of the armed groups or some of the soldiers and this discourages refugees from coming back.
The other thing people are waiting for is that we want to see a very clear timetable for elections. When is the census happening” So, these things are what people are waiting for.
Q: The church has its role in reconciling people. As an observer, what can you say about the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan?
A: From where I am, I hear some very good progress has been made in the implementation of the peace agreement and I think it is important that that continues. It is also important that the various groups that have signed the agreement also play their role.
One of the things that I keep hearing people say is the graduation of troops that are in cantonment and I think that is a tangible thing that needs to happen. The other thing is that the Bills in parliament need to be sped up. The Bills that will help with the things outlined in the agreement, the elections timetable, registration, and having a census. Looking at the constituency now, can we do these things within the time frame? I do not know. It is not for me to say this, but those are things if they are done, will give confidence to the average person.
All the parties who have signed the agreement have a role to play in implementing the agreement and they should not implement the agreement selectively but implement it as it is.
Q: What message do you have for African leaders as somebody who has been playing a role in reconciling people with themselves and with God?
A: I think it is important that our leaders take governance very seriously and ensure that they play their role in governing us by expectation. Some people always look at ways in which they gain from the suffering of the people and that is unfortunate. Whatever the responsibility that our leaders have been given, they should undertake it honestly to the best of their ability and ask the question “what legacy am I leaving after my time comes to an end?”
The continent of Africa has a lot of resources. How can we use those resources for the good of the people? How can we add value to our resources? We need to strengthen our system so that corruption is not something that is praised but people who are involved in corruption should know there is a cost.
Q: What is your message to the people on this World Refugee Day?
A: I think to say that there is hope whatever your situation is. In your current predicament, just have hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Work hard and take advantage of the host nation that has given hospitality to you. Some countries even provide pieces of land for you to cultivate, take advantage of that, and have the hope that a better day is coming and tomorrow will be different.