Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. (-)

The Pilgrims Affairs Office of the Islamic Council announced that the 1,360 South Sudanese Muslims expected to visit Saudi’s Holy City of Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage will pay about 5,000 US dollars each.

Hajj is an annual religious pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken each year by millions of Muslims from all over the world.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allocated 1,360 opportunities for pilgrims from South Sudan for this month.

The role of the Islamic Council in South Sudan is to facilitate the process for eligible and interested South Sudanese Muslims.

Eilaisha Chan Gatkuoth, the Executive Director of the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Office, says the amount will cater for all expenses including Airplane, mobility and accommodation among others.

Chan said the application process for the Hajj will begin on Monday, the 11th of March, and will run until the end of Ramadhan.

“We have provided the lowest cost for pilgrims this year, which is equivalent to 5,000 US dollars, which is the value of Hajj costs this year, which includes travel tickets, transportation within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and housing,” he told reporters in Juba.

Applications can be submitted at the Hajj and Umrah Affairs Office at the Islamic Council and regional offices across the ten states and three administrative provinces.

On his part, Mohammed Al-Mack, the coordinator of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage, said the interested applicant must provide some requirement such as a proof of yellow fever vaccination and a valid passport.

“Currently, application opportunities will only be available to citizens of South Sudan. Among the requirements for applying for Hajj is to bring a valid, stamped passport.”

“For women under 45 years old, someone from the family must be present and provide a yellow fever card.”

According to the official dispatching Hajj and Umrah, the age range for male pilgrims as per the Ministry of Hajj, is between 18 and 60 years.

For women, the accepted age range is between 40 and 45 years.

However, Individuals over 60 are not accepted for health reasons related to the procedures during the Hajj rituals, considering the movement.

The Muslims in South Sudan are estimated 6% of the population and the majority of South Sudanese Christianity and traditional religions according to recent research.