1 Comment
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has set new rules for the 1446/2025 Hajj season that affect Sierra Leone’s participation.
Under these rules, Embassy staff and volunteers from the Sierra Leone community in Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to support pilgrims at the holy sites of Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina. This follows safety concerns and deaths during last year’s Hajj.
Saudi Arabia has given Sierra Leone a quota of 2,000 pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj. Out of this, 1% (or 20 spots) was meant for support staff, but Embassy staff and volunteers are excluded.
Other local support workers are also not allowed to accompany pilgrims to the sacred sites because of strict penalties by Saudi authorities. These penalties include deportation, imprisonment, fines up to 250,000 Saudi Riyals (about \$67,000), and being declared persona non grata.
The Sierra Leone Embassy regrets the restrictions but says it will continue to support pilgrims during the Hajj in Makkah.
The Embassy also asks all Sierra Leoneans in Saudi Arabia to follow the new Hajj rules to avoid penalties.
There’s God In Sierra Leone ooo, isn’t the same God that created heaven and earth they are going to serve in Mecca? He is there in Sierra Leone as well and there is so many holy places with higher mountain in Sierra Leone to visit and stand to pray too. Cleanliness is holiness keep the country clean God will surely show his presence within you all. Sierra Leone is the West Africa Mecca buy it or your leave it. Think and grow rich with your citizens and lead to the right path not pressurizing them, for it’s the will of the almighty God.🙏🏾✌🏾🙌🏾✅