Refugee athletes find hope and experience at the African Championships

In May 2026, five members of the Athlete Refugee Team lined up alongside the continent best at the African Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana. For young people whose lives have been shaped by displacement and refugee camps, simply being on the start line of a major championship represented a victory in itself, and a chance to show that talent and ambition can survive even the harshest circumstances.

The team most experienced member, South Sudanese runner Perina Lokure Nakang, who has competed at two World Championships and the Paris Olympics, ran 2:10.02 in the 800m in sweltering heat. Alongside her, Solomon Ayela Okeny set a personal best of 52.40 in the 400m, Abdifatah Aden Hassan clocked 3:57.05 in the 1500m, Kun Waar Liem ran the 200m, and Lokoro Dario contested the 5000m, each gaining rare exposure to elite competition.

“For young people whose lives have been shaped by displacement and refugee camps, simply being on the start line of a major championship represented a victory in itself, and a chance to show that talent and ambition can survive even the harshest circumstances.”

For several of the athletes, the trip itself was full of firsts. One described flying for the first time, admitting he did not sleep for a single second during the entire journey, while another spoke of the encouragement he received from established sprinters who shared tips on improving his craft. These small moments of welcome matter as much as the results, weaving the refugee athletes into the wider community of the sport.

The squad carries a purpose that reaches beyond personal times. Nakang has spoken of wanting to run so that she can one day return home to South Sudan and help change her country. In a competition defined by national flags, the Athlete Refugee Team stands as a reminder of the millions of displaced people around the world, and of sport power to offer them visibility, dignity and a renewed sense of hope.