Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has called on Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad to uphold peace, unity, and national cohesion, stressing that sustainable national development can only be achieved through harmony, collective effort, and a shared sense of purpose.
The Vice President made the call yesterday, 20th June 2026, while serving as Guest of Honour at a celebration organised by *Yaadu Travel Services* to mark the successful completion of *Hajj 2026* for a second group of Sierra Leonean pilgrims from the United Kingdom and Europe who benefited from the programme.
The event, held at The Ark Hall in Camberwell, was also attended by Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh; Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh; Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie; Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma Esq.; Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and member of *the Presidential Task Force for Hajj*, Alhaji Mohamed Haji Kella; religious leaders, community representatives, and families of the pilgrims.
In his remarks, Vice President Jalloh praised His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s directive, which paved the way for the inclusion of Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora under the country’s Hajj quota. He highlighted reforms that have strengthened Sierra Leone’s Hajj programme through greater efficiency, accountability, and improved service delivery. The initiative, he noted, has provided a safe, reliable, and more accessible route for pilgrims from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. He also expressed satisfaction that all Sierra Leonean pilgrims returned safely from the pilgrimage and assured participants that efforts would continue to further enhance the programme.
He commended the partnership between the Presidential Task Force for Hajj and Yaadu Travel Services, which was established following President Bio’s directive to extend Hajj opportunities to Sierra Leoneans living abroad after registration difficulties and tragic incidents involving some diaspora pilgrims who resorted to unsafe and irregular travel arrangements in previous years.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to pilgrims who successfully completed Hajj 2026. The Government of Sierra Leone and the Presidential Task Force for Hajj were also recognised for their efforts in expanding access to the pilgrimage.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and Presidential Task Force member, Alhaji Mohamed Haji Kella, and Yaadu Travel Services CEO, Alhaji Mohammed Saadu Jalloh, praised His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and Vice President Jalloh for their leadership in transforming Sierra Leone’s Hajj operations. They noted that nearly 500 pilgrims from the United Kingdom and Europe participated in this year’s programme and thanked them for their trust and cooperation.
The celebration concluded with prayers and messages of gratitude, with participants describing the initiative as a landmark achievement for the Sierra Leonean diaspora and a strong example of constructive engagement between government and citizens overseas.
Abdulai Braima
Information Attaché