The unbelievably true story of Augustine Kanjia continues … Part 24: Surprise News That Set Us Free

Print More

We received yet another call to report for results of all our troubling interviews by the UNHCR (the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). It was the most troubling appointment above all in our quest for resettlement. Many teeth will grind in disappointment and discouragement.

There were about 20 families, more than 30 people. I had a case to be a witness to in court. Did this bother me? Not at all! My thoughts were all on my results to be released to me and the date I’d be given for our orientation.

How should we leave this time? How would people think about us? Would they conclude their stories about our frequent visits to Dakar? Well, a trick came to my mind before we would set off.

Mary, Glen and Theresa finally meet up with Augustine in Dakar.

Courtesy Augustine Kanjia

Mary, Glen and Theresa finally meet up with Augustine in Dakar.

Tell your boss at work that your son fainted overnight, I thought, and that there was an urgent need to go see his doctor in Dakar, so urgent you could not go by road.

Slok Air International, a Nigerian businessman-owned airline that was closed for a time due to corruption and mismanagement, was contacted by my boss, the managing editor of The Point newspaper. The Point had an agreement with Slok Air: They gave us their adverts, and they ferried Point workers and their families, wife and husband and one child, for free. I was called by a Slok manager, with the help of my wife’s Catholic friend, Aunty Bridget, who had shown compassion and pointed to this opportunity, which expedited our securing the ticket and leaving in the afternoon with our sick son.

Glen had, in fact, fainted earlier on in the past week. He had malaria, and was given chloroquine [a common treatment for malaria], which his heart would not accept. He then collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. He was treated and advised never to receive chloroquine for malaria.

All my colleagues at The Point knew my son had a problem that needed fixing. Many important details of our issues remained a complete family secret. Nobody said a word to anyone to avoid contradicting themselves and bringing our resettlement to a halt.


Read Augustine’s last installment, Joy, Despair and More Threats, or scroll down to start from earlier in his incredible journey


The commissioner of police in The Gambia wanted to see me, but I started becoming fearful because of the news that was coming out after my reports on the arrest of criminals posing as taxi drivers: some drug dealers whom I reported on implicated the Inspector General of the Gambian police.

He did not tell me he was in league with the criminals I had discovered. He wanted to see me because he would implicate me as his witness. I was wiser than he. I worried about my acceptance to leave the country as tension rose for those who still supported their president, a tyrant and a notorious secret killer, and above all a dictator.

Theresa

Courtesy Augustine Kanjia

Theresa

I did not say a word to my wife, Theresa. She was often afraid of my confrontations with the government or the police. She was quite leery of what she heard at The Point newspaper, where she also worked as a well-respected secretary. She heard a lot of rumors about me, and she kept me on my guard. She was mostly in haste for us to complete our interviews with the UNHCR so as to change our address for the better.

She actually gave me some insight into breaking news that made the difference.

It was 2:25 p.m., and we were to leave by 2:30 for the airport. We got a taxi and left. We had some time before our flight would leave at 4 p.m. My wife had forgotten the money we would use for the few days in Dakar. I was compelled to return quickly to get the money before the plane took off.

A soccer referee colleague of mine, Mr. Sillah, volunteered to give me a ride home to grab the money. He did not know what the problem was that I should leave my family and return home when the plane was almost ready to take off. Early on the drive, he volunteered to give me the equivalent of the money I left home. He pulled it out of his long bag on his side and we turned back toward the airport. My family was astonished at my quick return, but I explained, and we entered and checked in.

The plainclothes police and uniformed officers were all over the place. They are security-conscious. The president is mostly targeted for assassination because he does not do well for the people. One of the policemen called me. He asked me to leave the girl, my daughter Mary, behind. I called to my wife to let her know where I was going. I followed him and he asked me to sit in their police post. I told them it was quite odd to be brought to a secluded place.

“What have I done?” I asked.

He said he was only interested in me. He asked for my passport, but I had no passport. He then took our refugee documents and browsed through them.

“Oh! You mean you are refugees?” the policeman asked.

“Sure!” I responded.

“Where do you work?” he asked again, and answered by himself, “The Point newspaper?”

“How do you know?” I asked him. “Do you know me?”

I was tired as people in the queue started leaving the hall to board the plane. The queue was long and my family was last as they waited for me, but I still had little time. I found a way out and it was easy.

On his way to court ...

Courtesy Augustine Kanjia

On his way to court …

The policeman left me in the room to go see another man, apparently not a journalist. As he left, I got up and went back through the door I came in. I ran to my family. The propellers were moving fast, so we gave all our documents to the attendant and were allowed to go. While on the stairs to the plane, I turned back and saw the policeman running toward the plane, but it was too far and he could not reach us. His chapter was closed.

It was better in Dakar.

The language changed and I started speaking French. We got a taxi and went to see our friend, Charles Carlon, who owned a motel and was willing to accommodate us for free. We had come to him before. It was time to talk. He had just returned to Africa from Maryland, in the United States. He has his family there, but he came back to start his business on the hard ground of Africa.

When morning came, we were all set. I told my friend that we had to do check-up on Glen, that his heart still bothered him. I asked my friend if he thought there could be resettlement for refugees. He said it was not possible for Sierra Leoneans any longer. Since he did not believe it was possible, I kept quiet and did not tell him of our mission. We left in time for our results right in the heart of Dakar.

It was quite scary! We arrived in time and saw other refugees waiting around the city. We all gathered together and gossiped about the different aspects of our lives. Each of us explained in a privileged conversation about our lives as refugees. My family’s life story had qualified us for resettlement. Others knew they were not so lucky.

Ansu, was a Guinean-Liberian, which was shown by his accent. He was able to make it to the last stage as he may have not been honest about his health. He had said his ulcers of the worst type, but managed to get through all medical checkups. We all wondered why he could be dropped. In the morning he was quiet, and very fragile, so I took my time with my jokes.

Glen's heart problems had Augustine and family spanning the globe for answers.

Courtesy Augustine Kanjia

Glen’s heart problems, ironically, helped in resettlement efforts, but some ill refugees weren’t so lucky.

People were advised before being called. The building was complicated. When called this way, families were not allowed to return the same way, because they wanted no one to know who failed the final interview. They advised that we took heart in case we did not make it to the United States.

The conditions were difficult. Many families were called. We stayed put, waiting. We were hungry, tired and fed up. My heart was in my mouth, full of fear of failure. Many thought we were not going to lose, that we were on the winning side. Later, but a few of us were left, as the others disappeared.

We prayed hard.

My wife was made our leader because her story was far more fearful than mine. Mine was based on the mysterious escapes I had been making, including from the ambush on our 34-seat bus that left 32 dead, with a woman and me as the only survivors of the rebel massacre. That was my winning card, until I was put in prison in The Gambia for taking pictures outside a courthouse. This could not stand up to the appalling story of the killing, in cold blood, of my wife’s four brothers. One of them was my best friend, Emmanuel.

We were feeling very hungry. We recalled the killing of Theresa’s four brothers and how she suffered with her mom and sister. Well, she was made the head of our household because of this [for the sake of the interview]. My explanation about my escapes nearly became lore. Many liked me to tell it again and again.

It was about 4:42 p.m., and Eugene from Ghana worked with the resettlement group and came outside to look at us. He was my daughter’s friend. He thought Mary was adorable. He had bought pizza for her, too. That was my first time seeing pizza in Africa. He loudly called Theresa’s name and asked us to go in.

It was another interview before the results were shown to us. Many previous questions were asked to see if we maintained the same stories we had told. I knew my story to my fingertip. Their final question to me was, “Why were you apprehended at the court?” I knew they only wanted to tell us that they’d known about it, too. At the end, they congratulated Theresa and the whole family for a job well done.

You will go to the United States, the country of your dreams.

Theresa burst into tears and held me tight, as if we were ready to fight. The children rejoiced and one could see their premolars. It was quite an exciting moment. Our joy could not end. I still advocated that we keep it a family secret or else we shall not be allowed to leave The Gambia. What was next on our agenda? We sat as we waited for them to give us our final advice.

“You should have a three days’ orientation to learn about the culture of the States, and to get a head’s up for the new situation you are going to face. There is one this week and another in three weeks; you will have to decide to choose one,” Eugene said.

Augustine and his family have some travelling -- and secret-keeping -- to do, as their future in Worcester gets closer.

Courtesy Augustine Kanjia

Augustine and his family’s future in Worcester gets closer. And his time sneaking through Customs is almost over.

We decided to return to The Gambia and come in three weeks. This resonated well with our plan. It was only on our return we would have known when to come to the States, our new home. We could have done it at once, but it was quite difficult because we did not have enough money to live on and we did not want people to feel suspicious. We were settled for the next three weeks.

We left and had our lunch, with little time to waste. I told my friend, Charles Carlon, that the results for Glen’s test were negative, that we were to come again in three weeks. We then left for Banjul International Airport. I still had to escape from the policeman who had interest in me.


To catch up on the continuing series, follow these links:

Introducing the unbelievably true story of Augustine Kanjia

Part 1: The Decision That Saved My Life

Part 2: The Struggle for Survival in a Strange Land

Part 3: Good luck, bad luck, who knows?

Part 4: The Smoldering Bitterness of Enemies

Part 5: The Soccer Match That Changed My Life

Part 6: The Secret Visit to Freetown

Part 7: More Attention, More Friends … More Enemies

Part 8: Escape to Freetown

Part 9: More Suffering, More Tears

Part 10: Family Rejection vs. Manhood

Part 11: New Hope, More Troubles, and a Gift

Part 12: Deceived in Hard Times

Part 13: Dangerous Investigative Journalism Begins

Part 14: Family vs. Husband-to-be

Part 15: The Article That Saved My Son’s Life

Part 16: Glen’s Long Road to Health

Part 17: A Wedding Without Parents

Part 18: Another New Beginning

Part 19: Challenging Resettlement Process Begins

Part 20: Suspicion and Senegal Visits

Part 21: The Toughest Interview Brings Success

Part 22: Augustine is Apprehended

173 thoughts on “The unbelievably true story of Augustine Kanjia continues … Part 24: Surprise News That Set Us Free

  1. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the page layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?

  2. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

  3. I was just searching for this information for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your web site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top web sites are full of garbage.

  4. I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂

  5. We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to you.

  6. I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for posting. “The goal of revival is conformity to the image of Christ, not imitation of animals.” by Richard F. Lovelace.

  7. Pretty portion of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to say that I acquire actually enjoyed account your weblog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing in your feeds and even I fulfillment you get entry to persistently quickly.

  8. I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  9. Superb blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely confused .. Any suggestions? Thanks!

  10. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

  11. Im no longer sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I must spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thank you for wonderful information I used to be searching for this info for my mission.

  12. Hey! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?

  13. It’s appropriate time to make a few plans for the long run and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to counsel you few fascinating things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!

  14. I’m usually to running a blog and i really respect your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your website and preserve checking for brand new information.

  15. I haven’t checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  16. Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally…I’m glad to seek out so many helpful information right here within the submit, we want work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.

  17. Hi! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the outstanding work!

  18. Hi there, I found your web site by means of Google while looking for a comparable topic, your web site came up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  19. I am curious to find out what blog platform you are working with? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any recommendations?

  20. Thank you, I have recently been searching for information about this subject for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far. But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you positive about the supply?

  21. I was just seeking this info for a while. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative websites in top of the list. Generally the top web sites are full of garbage.

  22. Someone necessarily lend a hand to make severely posts I might state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the analysis you made to create this actual publish incredible. Great process!

  23. I think other website proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and magnificent user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!

  24. Its like you learn my thoughts! You appear to understand so much approximately this, like you wrote the e book in it or something. I feel that you simply could do with a few p.c. to power the message house a little bit, however instead of that, that is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.

  25. Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. This is a really smartly written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.

  26. Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web-site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What a perfect web-site.

  27. I used to be recommended this website by means of my cousin. I’m not certain whether or not this submit is written by way of him as no one else understand such targeted about my problem. You are amazing! Thank you!

  28. What i don’t realize is in reality how you are not actually much more well-appreciated than you might be now. You’re so intelligent. You already know therefore considerably on the subject of this subject, made me in my view consider it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women are not fascinated until it¦s something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs nice. At all times maintain it up!

  29. My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to looking at your web page repeatedly.

  30. Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.

  31. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.

  32. My wife and i got really excited when Emmanuel could finish off his inquiry via the precious recommendations he came across when using the web page. It’s not at all simplistic to simply continually be giving freely thoughts that many others might have been making money from. And we all figure out we need the website owner to thank for that. The entire explanations you made, the straightforward blog navigation, the friendships you will assist to instill – it’s everything extraordinary, and it’s really helping our son in addition to the family understand that content is pleasurable, which is seriously essential. Many thanks for all!

  33. Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? With thanks

  34. I haven’t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  35. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

  36. Can I simply say what a reduction to seek out someone who actually is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know learn how to carry a problem to gentle and make it important. Extra folks need to learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre no more fashionable since you positively have the gift.

  37. Just desire to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity on your put up is simply nice and i could think you are a professional in this subject. Well along with your permission let me to take hold of your RSS feed to keep updated with approaching post. Thank you a million and please keep up the gratifying work.

  38. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

  39. I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

  40. What¦s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & aid different customers like its helped me. Good job.

  41. obviously like your web-site but you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I’ll surely come again again.

  42. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100 positive. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

  43. Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over.” by Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.

  44. When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!

  45. The next time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I do know it was my option to learn, however I really thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could repair in the event you werent too busy in search of attention.

  46. Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told was once a amusement account it. Glance complicated to far delivered agreeable from you! However, how could we be in contact?

  47. Thanks , I have recently been searching for information about this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?

  48. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to search out any person with some original ideas on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this website is something that is needed on the web, someone with slightly originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the web!

  49. I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.

  50. hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.

  51. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  52. Hey there are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you need any coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  53. Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.

  54. My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on several websites for about a year and am nervous about switching to another platform. I have heard great things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  55. Throughout the grand scheme of things you receive a B- for hard work. Exactly where you confused me was on the particulars. You know, people say, details make or break the argument.. And it couldn’t be more true right here. Having said that, let me inform you just what exactly did deliver the results. Your writing is pretty powerful and this is possibly the reason why I am making an effort to opine. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. 2nd, whilst I can see the leaps in reason you come up with, I am not confident of exactly how you appear to connect the ideas that produce the conclusion. For the moment I will, no doubt yield to your issue but trust in the foreseeable future you connect the facts better.

  56. Amazing blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Bless you!

  57. Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any tips and hints for first-time blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  58. I simply wished to say thanks all over again. I’m not certain the things I would have handled in the absence of the type of aspects contributed by you regarding that industry. This has been a fearsome condition for me personally, however , witnessing your specialized fashion you dealt with it took me to jump over delight. I’m thankful for the service and believe you recognize what a powerful job you’re getting into training the others through your webblog. I am sure you have never met any of us.

  59. you are in reality a good webmaster. The site loading pace is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a magnificent activity in this matter!

  60. Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, great site!

  61. It is perfect time to make some plans for the long run and it’s time to be happy. I have learn this submit and if I may just I wish to counsel you few interesting issues or advice. Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article. I want to learn more issues approximately it!

  62. Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same outcome.

  63. I’ll right away take hold of your rss as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me realize in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.

  64. It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  65. Great – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..

  66. Hi there very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds alsoKI’m glad to search out numerous helpful information here within the publish, we’d like develop more strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  67. I have been browsing on-line greater than three hours as of late, but I by no means found any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful value sufficient for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made just right content material as you did, the web shall be a lot more helpful than ever before.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *