In a landmark move, the Republic of Sierra Leone formally sealed the 2024/1445 Hajj Agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, January 11, 2024. This significant accord was signed by Alhaji Murtada Sesay, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, during a bilateral meeting with Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat. The occasion took place on the sidelines of the culminating day of the 3rd Edition of the Annual Hajj and Umrah Exhibition & Conference held at the Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The bilateral agreement sets forth a commitment from both nations to ensure precision in the 2024/1445 Hajj operations, emphasizing the timely execution of pre-Hajj, Hajj, and Umrah activities. Alhaji Murtada Sesay expressed the purpose of the Hajj agreement as enhancing the pilgrimage journey to Makkah, making it more seamless and accessible for Sierra Leonean pilgrims. He further detailed that the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj is diligently coordinating arrangements for flights, accommodation, transportation, and catering to guarantee the best hospitality for Sierra Leonean pilgrims during the sacred pilgrimage.
Mohamed Haji-Kella, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and a member of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, lauded the historical significance of the Hajj and Umrah Exhibition & Conference. He emphasized the recognition and credibility bestowed upon the event, particularly during the workshops and bilateral meetings in the Kingdom.
His Excellency Dr Ibrahim Jalloh, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and also a member of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, underscored the transformative impact of the just-concluded Hajj and Umrah Exhibition and Conference on the processes related to Hajj and Umrah. He assured collaborative efforts between the embassy and the Sierra Leone Presidential Taskforce on Hajj delegation to ensure the smooth and successful execution of the 2024 Hajj.
This year’s Hajj and Umrah Exhibition & Conference witnessed the participation of over 60 countries worldwide, marking a global congregation aimed at advancing the understanding and coordination of the sacred pilgrimages.
