Embassy of Sierra Leone, Saudi Arabia

12/06/2026

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Joins Returning Hajj Pilgrims for Special Congregational Prayer

State House, Freetown, 12 June, 2026 - His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio joined returning Sierra Leonean Hajj pilgrims for a special congregational prayer following the successful completion of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The gathering brought together pilgrims, religious leaders, government officials, and members of the Muslim community to offer gratitude to Allah for a safe and successful pilgrimage and to pray for continued peace, unity, and development in Sierra Leone.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a sacred religious obligation undertaken by Muslims who are physically and financially able to do so. The pilgrimage symbolizes faith, sacrifice, unity, and devotion to Allah, bringing together millions of Muslims from around the world each year.

Providing an overview of this year’s pilgrimage, Chairman of the Presidential Hajj Taskforce, Alhaji Murtada Sesay, disclosed that a total of 2,626 Sierra Leonean pilgrims, including members of the diaspora community, participated in the 2026 Hajj exercise. He noted that 826 pilgrims travelled directly from Sierra Leone and expressed gratitude that all pilgrims successfully completed the holy rites and returned home safely.

Alhaji Sesay commended President Bio and his Government for their unwavering support and commitment to facilitating a smooth and successful pilgrimage for Sierra Leonean Muslims. He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various institutions and stakeholders whose contributions ensured the effective coordination and management of this year’s Hajj exercise.

In his remarks, President Bio warmly welcomed the pilgrims home and congratulated them on the successful completion of one of Islam’s most significant acts of worship. He praised the Presidential Hajj Taskforce for its diligence, efficiency, and responsiveness in ensuring that the pilgrimage process was seamless and well-coordinated.

The President emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in nation-building and encouraged institutions, development partners, and citizens to continue supporting Government’s efforts to improve public service delivery and create opportunities that enhance the well-being of all Sierra Leoneans.

President Bio further prayed for continued peace, national cohesion, and prosperity, asking Allah’s guidance and blessings upon the nation’s leadership and people as they work together to advance Sierra Leone’s development aspirations.

The prayer session concluded with special supplications for national peace, economic progress, and the continued success of Sierra Leone, reaffirming the enduring role of faith in fostering unity and hope across the country.

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State House Media and Communications Unit
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12/06/2026

Jumu'ah prayer with the 2026 Hujjaj at State House, as the President and Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, through the Presidential Hajj Taskforce and the Ministry of Social Welfare, welcome them.

10/06/2026

*Flashback: 9 Dhul-Hijjah 1447AH*
Pilgrims spending the night at Muzdalifah.

Our Information Attaché, Alhaji Abubakarr Bah, briefly explains the Hajj ritual at Muzdalifah. He also speaks with pilgrim Alhaji Ibrahim Bailor Barrie about his perspective on the experience.

10/06/2026

The third and final batch of 262 Sierra Leonean home-based Hajj pilgrims safely arrived at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi at 2am local time on Wednesday, 10 Junne, 2026.

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

The third and final batch of 262 Hajj pilgrims is expected to arrive at Freetown International Airport, Lungi, in the early hours of Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 02:40. The pilgrims will then be ferried to the Kissy Ferry Terminal, east end of Freetown, on Wednesday morning.

*Please share.*

*Filed by*
Alhaji Abubakarr Bah
Information Attaché
Embassy of Sierra Leone
Saudi Arabia

09/06/2026

*Embassy of Sierra Leone, Saudi Arabia: News Brief*
*Tuesday 9 June 2026*

The Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, Ambassador Dr Ibrahim Jalloh, has clarified that the remaining 26 pilgrims, including the advance team of the Taskforce, will be flying from Jeddah in the early hours of Wednesday 10 June 2026 en route to Guinea.

They are expected to arrive at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry on Wednesday 09:49 local time. He told this writer that the Office of the Honourable Vice President of Sierra Leone has positioned a standby bus in Conakry to transport them to Freetown.

*Filed by*
Alhaji Abubakarr Bah
Information Attaché
Embassy of Sierra Leone
Saudi Arabia.

09/06/2026

*PART 3: Excerpt*

In this edition of our recorded broadcast, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Turay, continues his narrative on the lessons learnt during the 2026 Hajj.

The full video will be posted later.

09/06/2026

*Third and Final Batch of 262 Sierra Leone Hajj Pilgrims Departs for Freetown After Successful 2026 Hajj*

*JEDDAH, Tuesday 9 June 2026* – The third and final batch of 262 Sierra Leonean home-based Hajj pilgrims departed King Abdulaziz International Airport’s Hajj Terminal on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET8525 at 21:40 KSA time on Tuesday 9 June 2026.

The pilgrims will be airborne for eight hours non-stop and are expected to arrive at Freetown International Airport, Lungi, at 02:40 Sierra Leone time in the early hours of Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Speaking to this writer in a recorded video interview posted on Facebook before departure, Haja Bondu Fatmata Brima commended the Government of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio for his unwavering support for the Hajj process. She said she was pleased with the accommodation provided in Madinah and Makkah.

“I am very pleased with the Hajj. Last night I spent the night at the Kaaba. I performed my farewell Tawaf, kissed the Holy Kaaba and bade it farewell. I prayed for the children who facilitated my Hajj, for my relatives, friends, neighbours and my country for peace and development,” she said.

Alhaji Ibrahim Bailor Barrie described the 1447AH/2026 Hajj as “spiritually fulfilling”. He said the Hajj is “Allah’s calling” and makes pilgrims reflect on life and the hereafter.

“Performing the Hajj rituals at Muzdalifah, Arafat and Mina humbled me. Among fellow pilgrims there is no class; we are equal. At Muzdalifah we slept on the bare floor, close to each other irrespective of status, class or race,” he said. Mr Barrie commended His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and the Honourable Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for their unwavering support. He said Sierra Leone stands tall among other countries for the exceptional performance of this year’s Hajj. He said he prayed for his family, the President, government and the people of Sierra Leone.

Alhaji Sheikh Abdulrazack Sengeh said he felt fulfilled, glorifying the Almighty Allah for making it possible to perform the Hajj. “At Arafat, I sensed total submission to Allah. It reflected the teachings of the Quran about the Day of Judgement as we stood in our white garments or Ihrams,” he said.

Alhaji Sheiku Kamara from Karene District commended the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj and the Embassy of Sierra Leone for the support that ensured the success of the Hajj.

A Sierra Leonean Imam based in the UK, who registered for the pilgrimage in Freetown and requested anonymity, also commended the Government for a smooth process. He said in Mina the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Mohamed Haji-Kella, gave him his mattress and then sought another for himself. “This shows sacrifice and humility from a government minister,” he said.

The coordinator of Al-Bait Hajj & Umrah Sierra Leone, Dr Ramadan Jalloh, expressed gratitude to the Honourable Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj for allocating space for 57 pilgrims on a VIP programme. The programme provided accommodation at the Voco Hotel in Makkah with an international buffet.

In another development, 26 pilgrims, including members of the advance Taskforce team, will depart Jeddah at 04:40 KSA time and are expected to arrive in Conakry 09:40 on Wednesday 10 June 2026. A bus from the office of the Vice President will transport them to Freetown.

A total of 2,626 Sierra Leonean pilgrims, both home-based and from the diaspora, participated in the 1447AH/2026 Hajj, which has been widely regarded as successful. One elderly pilgrim from The Gambia passed away in Makkah from natural causes. He was given a befitting burial in Makkah following approval from his family.

*Filed by*
Alhaji Abubakarr Bah
Information Attaché
Embassy of Sierra Leone
Saudi Arabia.

09/06/2026

June 9, 2026.

*Episode Three*

As the third and final batch of Sierra Leonean home-based Hajj pilgrims prepares to depart Jeddah tonight, our Information Attaché, Alhaji Abubakarr Bah, sought the views of some pilgrims on the outcome of the 2026 Hajj.