By Alhaji Abubakarr Bah, Information Attaché, Saudi Arabia.
Sierra Leonean Diaspora Hajj Coordinators from the United Kingdom and the United States, on Wednesday, 13th November, 2025, celebrated the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj Alhaji Murtada Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia His Excellency Mohammed Barrie, and Saudi businessman, philanthropist and friend of Sierra Leone, Saleh Zahrani, for their outstanding work in making the past hajj events a huge success.
The recognitions took place at a colourful dinner organized by Saleh Zahrani at his residence in Jeddah.
The Hajj Coordinating Group from the United Kingdom presented distinguished plaques to the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, Alhaji Murtada Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mohammed Barrie, and Saleh Zahrani for their outstanding contributions and tremendous support to Sierra Leonean diaspora pilgrims.
The Spiritual Leader of the Hajj Coordinating Group in the United Kingdom, Sheikh Mahdi Jalloh, on behalf of his team, expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, for incorporating Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora into the Sierra Leone Hajj contingent during the last Hajj.
Narrating the ordeals diaspora pilgrims were encountering, Sheikh Mahdi said they were extremely grateful to the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Alhaji Mohamed Hadji-Kella, Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, Ambassador Barrie, and the entire staff of the embassy for their tremendous support towards pilgrims, especially those from the diaspora.
Sheikh Jalloh also commended Mr. Saleh for his outstanding contributions towards the Hajj, which he said is ‘highly appreciated’.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Alhaji Mohamed Haji-Kella, commended Alhaju Mutada Sesay for his service to Sierra Leone and the Hajj pilgrims over the years.
He said although Hajj is a spiritual exercise the work leading to a successful Hajj is almost 80% administration, adding that “one of the secrets of our success in the Hajj since 2018 is having Alhaji Murtada Sesay as Chairman of the Hajj Affairs in Sierra Leone, and I have learned a lot from him.” The Deputy Minister stressed that it is good to celebrate people when they are alive, rather than glorifying them when they are no more.
Alhaji Hadji-Kella also lauded the tremendous contributions of Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mohamed Barrie, the Head of Chancery, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabba, and the entire staff of the mission for the marvelous work in supporting the pilgrimage.
The Deputy Minister, on behalf of the government of Sierra Leone, expressed gratitude to the distinguished Saudi businessman, Saleh Zahrani, for the tremendous support he has been giving to Sierra Leonean pilgrims for more than two decades, adding that Saleh’s sincere humanitarian services to Sierra Leone have been exceptional.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mohammed Barrie, narrated the leadership role he and his team have played in supporting the success of the Hajj last year, as well as giving the Sierra Leone embassy a befitting phase in terms of visibility and positioning it into a mission that is prioritizing economic diplomacy, with its focus on wooing trade opportunities and attracting investment opportunities, which is aligned with His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision encapsulated in the Big Five Gamechangers.
Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, Ambassador Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, gave a historical perspective about the difficulties Sierra Leonean pilgrims were facing during the 80s, and how the Sierra Leone Government intervened more than two decades ago to salvage the Hajj, noting that year after year, the Hajj has improved greatly, especially between 2018 to date.
In their statements, Chairman Alhaji Murtada Sesay, Ambassador Mohammed Barrie, and Saleh Zahrani expressed their gratitude to the Sierra Leone Diaspora Hajj Coordinators for the recognitions. They pledged to continue to faithfully serve the country.
For enquiries:
Email: information.attache@sa.slembassy.gov.sl
