By: Alhaji Abubakarr Bah
The first batch of 150 Sierra Leonean diaspora pilgrims has safely arrived in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the 1447/2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
In total, 2,626 Sierra Leonean pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj. This figure includes 826 pilgrims traveling directly from Sierra Leone and 1,800 Sierra Leoneans living in the diaspora who will arrive in Madinah in several batches under the Sierra Leone Hajj contingent.
To ensure smooth coordination and proper reception arrangements, the Sierra Leone Presidential Taskforce on Hajj has already deployed an advance team of five officials, including medical personnel, who arrived in Madinah on Friday. The team is responsible for receiving the pilgrims and facilitating their accommodation and welfare arrangements.
Meanwhile, the 826 home-based pilgrims from Sierra Leone are scheduled to travel to Madinah in three separate batches aboard Ethiopian Airlines flights. The first batch will depart from Freetown International Airport in Lungi on 15 May 2026, the second batch on 16 May 2026, while the third and final batch is expected to depart on 18 May 2026.
The arrival of the first group of pilgrims marks the beginning of Sierra Leone’s participation in the annual Islamic pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.