Sierra Leone initiates move to lift ban on pilgrims

The Sierra Leone Embassy in the Saudi capital has made moves to be ready just in case the Saudi Ministry of Haj lifts the ban imposed on Sierra Leoneans performing Haj.
The embassy has sent communications to the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Freetown if it should initiate moves to appeal the ban on Sierra Leonean pilgrims with the host government.
“If the Ministry of Religious Affairs gives us the green signal, we will meet with Haj Minister Dr. Bandar Al-Hajjar to appeal that the ban be lifted,” Ambassador Alhaji Mohamed S. Kargbo said on Saturday.
Kargbo was one of three Sierra Leonean envoys who went recently to the Holy City of Makkah to pray for Ebola eradication in his country. He stayed there for ten days.
The other two were Ambassadors Siray Alpha Timbo (UAE) and Mohammed Fofana (Iran). Timbo stayed in the Holy City for four days while Fofana for two days.
Kargbo also noted the excellent facilities for the pilgrims in the wake of the Kingdom’s preparations for this year’s Haj observance.
M.B. Jalloh, Sierra Leonean Embassy spokesman, said that if and when the ban is lifted, some 1,500 Sierra Leonean pilgrims will fly to the Kingdom to perform Haj.
He noted though that Sierra Leone has a quota much bigger than the expected number of pilgrims coming if the ban on them is lifted.
The ban was imposed because of fears regarding Ebola virus. Sierra Leone was one of three African countries hit by the virus. The other countries are Liberia and Guinea.
“However, we have heard that the pilgrims of another country hit by the virus have been allowed to come to the Kingdom for Haj,” Jalloh said.
For this reason, he said that the embassy was hoping that the ban on Sierra Leonean pilgrims will also be lifted.
“We believe in the fairness of the Kingdom," he said.