Monday 8th June 2026 – The second batch of 266 Sierra Leonean home-based Hajj pilgrims has safely arrived at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, at 7:11 Sierra Leone time on Monday morning, 8 June 2026, after a successful 1447H/2026 Hajj in Makkah.

The pilgrims departed King Abdulaziz International Airport’s Hajj Terminal on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET8523 at 02:11 KSA time in the early hours of Monday.

Speaking to this writer during a Facebook live interview before departure, several pilgrims thanked Allah for a successful 1447H/2026 Hajj. The pilgrims also expressed appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone, the Embassy, and the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj for a smooth process.

“The Hajj was very smooth and successful. Hospitality was excellent, accommodation was good and we ate three times a day. I thank the Government of Sierra Leone for everything towards a successful Hajj this year,” said Haja Adama Baimba.

Middle-aged pilgrim Alhaji Ansumana Turay said: “Alhamdulillah, everything went perfectly well. They took good care of us during the entire Hajj.”

Haja Kadiatu Conteh also said: “We ate three times a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and accommodation was excellent, Alhamdulillah. We thank the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj and the Government of Sierra Leone for a successful Hajj.”

Chief Whip of Parliament, Hon. Alhaji Dixon Rogers, described his Hajj as “spiritually uplifting”.
“Standing at Mount Arafat as a Muslim has uplifted my faith and reformed my life. For me, Hajj is a rebirth. It has made me reflect on my life and renew my faith in Allah, and refrain from my previous mistakes as a Muslim,” he said.

He added: “I am thankful to Allah for a successful Hajj. The work of the Hajj Taskforce, the Sierra Leone Ambassador, Mohammed Barrie, and his staff has been exceptional. They worked very hard throughout the rituals to ensure the success of the Hajj. I prayed for my country and the leadership of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio.”

Sierra Leone’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Turay, thanked Allah for a successful Hajj as pilgrims returned home safe and well. He congratulated the pilgrims on completing the 2026 Hajj and expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and the Honourable Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for their unwavering support.

“Since the SLPP government came to power in 2018, the Hajj process has been reformed, thanks to His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio’s leadership. His able Vice President has been phenomenal in supporting the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj for consistently successful Hajjs over the past eight years. We no longer have ‘Alhaji Abuja’ or ‘Haja Lungi’. Pilgrims no longer get stranded at airports for hours after performing the pilgrimage. They board exactly at the scheduled time,” Amb. Turay concluded.

Minister-Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the Embassy, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabba, commended staff for unity and collaboration in supporting the Hajj Taskforce. “Supporting the Hajj Taskforce is demanding, but the coordination by staff under the leadership of the mission has been commendable and I feel humbled to be part of the process,” he said.

The third and final batch of home-based Hajj pilgrims will depart Jeddah for Freetown on 9 June 2026.

For enquiries:
Alhaji Abubakarr Bah
Information Attaché
Embassy of Sierra Leone
Saudi Arabia.