By Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has announced new regulations for the 1446/2025 Hajj season, impacting Sierra Leone’s participation.
Under the new rules, staff from the Sierra Leone Embassy and community volunteers in Saudi Arabia will be prohibited from assisting pilgrims at the holy sites of Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina. This decision follows safety concerns and incidents of fatalities during last year’s Hajj.
Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 2,000 pilgrims for Sierra Leone for the upcoming Hajj, of which only 1% (20 spots) was designated for support staff. However, Embassy personnel and volunteers are now excluded from this allocation. Additionally, local support workers will not be permitted to accompany pilgrims to the sacred sites due to stringent penalties enforced by Saudi authorities. These penalties can include deportation, imprisonment, fines of up to 250,000 Saudi Riyals (approximately $67,000), and being declared persona non grata.
While the Sierra Leone Embassy expresses regret over the new restrictions, it remains committed to supporting pilgrims during Hajj in Makkah. The Embassy urges all Sierra Leoneans in Saudi Arabia to adhere to the new Hajj regulations to avoid penalties.
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