The United States Embassy in Freetown has closed its operation to the people of Sierra Leone in recognition of the Eid al- adha Celebration.

The Embassy announced that it will be closed tomorrow on June 17th 2024. The Embassy is to resume operation to the public on Tuesday June 18th 2024 .

Eid al-Adha commonly translated as the Feast of Sacrifice and also known as Yawm an-Nahr is the second of the two main Islamic holidays alongside Eid al-Fitr. In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the twelfth and final month of Dhu al-Hijja, and celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the three following days, known as the Tashreeq days.

As with Eid al-Fitr, the Eid prayer is performed on the morning of Eid al-Adha, after which udhiyah, or the ritual sacrifice of sheep, may be performed. In Islamic tradition, the udhiyah honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. Pilgrims performing the Hajj typically perform the tawaf and saee of Hajj on Eid al-Adha, along with the ritual stoning of the devil on the Eid day and the following days.