Sierra Leone Signs 2027 Hajj Deal for 3,000 Pilgrims, Eyes 3,500 Quota
Ben Bassey Sierra Leone has secured a 3,000-pilgrim quota for the 2027 Hajj, with an option to add 500 more if the initial allocation is fully utilised, under an agreement signed with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Alhaji Murtada Sesay, Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, signed the annual agreement on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, with Deputy Minister Abdulfattah bin Suleiman Mashat on the sidelines of the Sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition at the Jeddah Superdome.
Sesay said the agreement covers 3,000 Sierra Leonean pilgrims, with an understanding that the Taskforce can make a case for an additional 500 if the base quota is filled. He expressed optimism about full utilisation, citing a long list of registered applicants awaiting payment.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammed S. Barrie, said the Kingdom is introducing the “Tarik Makkah” (Road to Makkah) initiative, which would allow pilgrims to complete immigration and customs screening at departure rather than on arrival. Saudi immigration officers would be deployed to Sierra Leone before travel to prevent information mismatches and deportation cases that have occurred in previous years.
The agreement follows Sierra Leone’s successful 2026 Hajj operation, in which 2,626 pilgrims performed the pilgrimage—826 from Sierra Leone and 1,800 from the diaspora. The 2026 exercise was praised by Saudi officials, who commended Sierra Leone for meeting Hajj benchmarks and securing a 3,500 quota for that season.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Alhaji Mohamed Haji-Kella said Saudi authorities have introduced examinations for Hajj officials from participating countries, requiring them to pass before serving. Eleven Taskforce members, including the Deputy Chairman, passed the exams and are qualified for the 2027 contingent.
The Sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition drew more than 520 governmental, private, and non-profit entities from over 150 countries. Sierra Leone’s delegation included embassy officials and Taskforce members, among them two female representatives.
The agreement sets the stage for 2027 preparations, with registration already opened in July 2026 at a cost of US$7,000 per pilgrim and a payment deadline of November 16, 2026.