Dr. Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Secretary of Sudan’s Hajj and Umrah Secretariat, said the improvement of the security situation in several regions in his country led to an increase in the number of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he revealed that 11,500 Sudanese pilgrims, from stable and unstable regions, will perform the Hajj in 2025.
Before the eruption of the war in April 2023, some 32,000 Sudanese people were able to perform the Hajj.
Abdel Wahab said insecurity and instability, as well as the dangers of traveling through some airports in Sudan, have discouraged people from going on the Hajj in the past two years.
The latest improved security, most notably in Khartoum, White Nile, Blue Nile, Sennar and others, has helped increase the number of pilgrims this year, he stressed.
They travel to Saudi Arabia mainly through Port Sudan’s Suakin sea port and airport. The flight to Jeddah by air takes no more than 45 minutes and around ten hours by sea.
Travelers from West Darfur, totaling 48, will arrive in Jeddah via Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa given the instability in the state, he went on to say.
Moreover, he said all procedures are being carried out electronically, adding that this advancement was possible through the hard work of several government entities.
Abdel Wahab praised Saudi authorities for the warm welcome they have accorded the Sudanese pilgrims, saying it has become expected given the Saudi people’s hospitality and keenness of officials on facilitating the pilgrims’ journey from the moment they arrive in the Kingdom until their departure.
Saudi Arabia has dedicated all human and financial means to service the Hajj pilgrims, he added.
The services have been advancing year after year on all technical levels, he noted, saying this has made the Hajj a very smooth journey.
Politically, he hailed Saudi Arabia on its efforts to ease tensions between rival Sudanese parties, reflecting its keenness on restoring security and stability in his country.
Saudi Arabia has for decades supported Sudan on the political, social and humanitarian levels, Abdel Wahab said.
