497 Sierra Leoneans arrive in Saudi Arabia safely

Four hundred and ninety seven (497) Sierra Leonean Pilgrims arrived safely at the Prince Mohamed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Medinah on board Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight no. AT 1800 at about 12 mid day (Saudi Arabian Time) Thursday 12th November, 2009.  (Photo: The Ambassador’s Wife, Mrs. Zainab Munu welcomes pilgrims from Sierra Leone)

On arrival, they were warmly received by His Excellency, Ambassador Wusu B. Munu, Minister Counsellor/ Head of Chancery, Mr. Ibrahim S. Yilla, other Diplomatic and local Staff of the Embassy and a good number of Sierra Leonean nationals resident in different parts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the Sierra Leone Students Union in Medinah led by its President, Sheik Ibrahim Bah, Dr. Ahmad Ramadan Jalloh among other members of the Union.

After the completion of all airport formalities, the Embassy assisted the Pilgrims to reach their well furnished Hotel apartments at Qurban Nazil close to the second most revered place of worship for Muslims around the world,  “Al – Masjid Annabawy” ( Prophet’s Muhammad’s Mosque).  (Photo: Info Attache, A. Jalloh, Ex- Min. Kemoh Sesay, Ambassador Munu, Min. of Labour, Minkailu Mansaray, HOC, I.S. Yilla and head of the Hajj Steering Comitee, Sheik Abubakar Conteh)

Among well known Sierra Leoneans performing this year’s Hajj with their compatriots are, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Employment, Hon. Minkailu Mansaray and former Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Kemoh Sesay.

Speaking shortly after arrival, both men commended the Embassy for what they described as ” a well planned Hajj 2009 under the leadership of the hardworking Ambassador Munu and his Head Of Chancery, I.S. Yilla,” urging all pilgrims to show the rest of the world that Sierra Leone is a united country. (Read interviews with both men in subsequent editions).

The Pilgrims will tomorrow join millions of their counterparts from different parts of the world to observe the official basic Hajj Rites by  visiting the aforementioned Mosque where the Prophet of Islam and some of his closest allies, Abubakar and  Umar  were laid to rest.

Meanwhile, a high powered government delegation to be led by a senior Minister in the APC government, (name withheld for now) is also expected to arrive in the next few days and to be hosted by the Royal Protocol.

The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Suad reportedly ordered the hosting of about 1,000 Hajj Pilgrims from various countries as part of a guest pilgrims program supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance.

Alhaji Jalloh and Min. Minkailu Mansaray and ex-Minister Kemoh Sesay

Last year, Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Sidique Sam Sumana also led a Ten- Man Delegation who was also a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The delegation was lodged at the King’s Palaces in Jeddah, Mecca and Mina throughout the Hajj period.

“The royal gesture shows the interest of the King in the welfare of Muslims the world over and his desire to strengthen Islamic relations based on the Book of God and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him),” said Ambassador Munu.

In another development, the Sierra Leone Embassy has temporarily relocated over 1,000 kilometers from the center of the Arabian Penisula, Riyadh to the Southern Arabian city of Jeddah.

“The temporal relocation would help the Embassy facilitate its obligations to the Pilgrims from its strategic temporal office in Jeddah to holy places in Makkah and Madinah,” remarked First Secretary, Eric Gamanga.

  

(Photos: distinguished Sierra Leonean Pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj 2009)

Alhaji Jalloh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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