Sierra Leone News, Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
Hotels - Freetown
Media Links
Mining
Shipping
Travel
Freetown Weather
Page added on November 19, 2009
Author: Alhaji Jalloh - Saudi Arabia
The second batch of 18 Sierra Leonean pilgrims arrived at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah for this year’s Muslim pilgrimage, Monday, November 18, 2009. (Photo: Pilgrims on arrival at Jeddah Int. Airport, passports being distributed by Alhaji Gibril)
They arrived on board Royal Air Maroc (RAM) at about 7: 35 P.M Saudi Arabian time and were warmly received by First Secretaries of the Sierra Leone Embassy, Mr. Eric Bobson Gamanga, Sheik Sidiah Sillah and other Sierra Leoneans resident in Jeddah.

L-R SL Embassy 1st Sec, Sidiah Sillah, Alhaji Gibril and 1st Sec Eric Gamanga. Back row - other pilgrims
The pilgrims including, 14 women and 4 men were led by a member of the Sierra Leone Hajj Mission, Alhaji Gibril Kamara who doubles as Chairman of SHAM International, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.
Shortly after arrival, Alhaji Gibril says it was a “smooth trip for the second batch.”
This latest batch of pilgrims is part of two groups, SHAM International and Guidance Islamic Movement of Campbell Street in Freetown who were unable to perform last year’s pilgrimage due to unavoidable circumstances.
According to Alhaji Gibril, their trip was made possible this year due to the timely intervention of the President, Vice President, and other patriotic Sierra Leoneans.
“On behalf of the group, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency, the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, His Excellency, Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Sidique Sumana, the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr. Soccoh Alex Kabia, State House officials and all those who were actively involved towards the success of our trip to the Holy Land,” Alhaji Kamara says outside Terminal 7 while thanking the Sierra Leone Embassy for the warm reception accorded them.
After undergoing all airport formalities, the 18 pilgrims were driven in a special pilgrimage bus to their well furnished apartments on Mansour Street in down town Mecca, 80 kilometers from Jeddah.
It could be recalled that the first batch of 497 pilgrims arrived at the Prince Mohamed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Medinah Thursday, 12th November, 2009. This brings the total number of pilgrims who have so far arrived to 515.
The Information Bureau of the Sierra Leone Embassy will keep the public informed of future arrivals.
By Alhaji Jalloh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy Saudi Arabia Reporting from Jeddah Int. AirportStay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2009, Sierra Express Media. All rights reserved.
RELATED STORIES
Search This Site
LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
ALSO IN THE NEWS
Thinking Aloud: City Father and City Traders – Strange bedfellowsAuthor: SEM Contributor
One disgusting feature about our capital, Freetown is over population. Too many living things in the capital! These can be categorized as humans (consisting of commuters, pedestrians, street kids, hawkers, street traders, beggars, mad people, etc). Some demographers say the population of street beggars and mad people (often referred to as the medically ill) all [...]
MORE STORIES
Sierra Unite goodwill gestureHAVE YOUR SAY
Did you travel to Freetown recently? What is your perspective on Lungi International airport?Our New Website Has a More Efficient Layout
We invite you to give us your feedbackMORE NEWS HEADLINES