South Sudan Muslims Rejoin Hajj After Two-Year Pause

By Simon Deng

The Secretary General of the South Sudan Islamic Council Abdala Baraj Rual yesterday , announced that South Sudanese Muslims have resumed their Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, after a two-year hiatus caused by financial constraints.

“As you know, it was not possible for South Sudanese Muslims to embark on the pilgrimage over the last two years. However, with God’s help, this has now become possible. We hope to see an increase in numbers next year,” Rual said during a press conference at the headquarters of the South Sudan Islamic Council.

“This year, we have two batches going for Hajj. It is of great significance; the successful preparation shows that the Office of Hajj Affairs is able to organise the annual pilgrimage and that each Muslim will have a chance to visit the Holy City,” said Rual.

Rual stated that the visit to the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia has raised the name of South Sudan across the globe, adding that it is an opportunity for South Sudanese pilgrims to engage and interact with people worldwide.

Rual expressed appreciation for the Office of Hajj Affairs under the South Sudan Islamic Council and the Saudi authorities for their successful coordination, including the timely issuance of visas.

Adil Faris, the representative of the private sector who also serves as the director of Junubna TV, said the preparation has provided hope that more Muslims will have the opportunity to perform Hajj in the future.

“We appreciate the South Sudan Islamic Council’s efforts, and we hope that they will continue to facilitate such important religious journeys. The mandatory religious duty is about worship but also cooperation,” said Faris.

South Sudanese Muslims seen on Friday before they fly from Juba via Cairo to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The two batches, comprising 90 South Sudanese Muslims, including those in the diaspora, will visit Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to undertake the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

The Hajj, which now costs approximately 5,000 United States dollars, is one of the five pillars of Islam and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable.

From June 3 to June 6, 2025, worshippers will participate in a series of ceremonies, culminating in mass outdoor prayers on Mount Arafat, a site that holds deep religious significance as the place where the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.