South Sudan Islamic Council opens pilgrimage registration, sets fee at $5,000

JUBA – The South Sudan Islamic Council has officially opened registration and begun preparations for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage (1447 AH), calling on eligible South Sudanese Muslims to register through the National Office of Hajj with at least a $5000 registration fee.

Hajj 2026 will take place in and around Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at the traditional holy sites, including the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, with rituals occurring over five to six days in June.

Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Thursday, the Secretary-General of the South Sudan Islamic Council, Abdullah Baraj, said the cost of the pilgrimage has been set at approximately $5,000, covering all essential services for pilgrims.

“The Hajj costs about $5,000. This amount includes a round-trip air ticket, accommodation, transportation, insurance, concessional Hajj fees, and Zakat [offerings],” Baraj said.

“All of these services are included so that a pilgrim can travel from South Sudan to the Holy Mosque in Mecca and properly perform the rituals of Hajj,” he added.

Baraj announced that the National Office of Hajj is now fully operational, with its head office based in Juba and branches established in several states.

“Our head office is here in Juba, and we also have branches in different states. We have sent official instructions asking them to announce the Hajj registration and inform Muslims in their areas to come and register,” he said.

He stressed that Hajj registration is open only to South Sudanese nationals, describing nationality as a basic and non-negotiable requirement.

“One of the main conditions is nationality. In South Sudan, a person cannot perform the Hajj without South Sudanese nationality. This is the basic condition,” Baraj added.

According to the Islamic Council, applicants must present a valid South Sudanese passport, a medical fitness certificate, and other required documents. Pilgrims must also be between 18 and 60 years old.

Baraj further emphasized that the pilgrimage is meant for Muslims who are physically and financially able.

“This Hajj is the Hajj of the able. Our role is to encourage Muslims who are willing and able to come with their own money and perform the pilgrimage,” he said.

The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is obligatory once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able.

The 2026 Hajj (1447 AH) is expected to take place in late May, with the main rituals likely running from May 25 to May 30, depending on the sighting of the new moon in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Hassan Rahamatullah, Executive Director of the Hajj Affairs Office in South Sudan, said the country has an estimated 1,000 slots available for pilgrims, depending on registration numbers.

“We are ready to receive applications as soon as the registration process officially begins,” Rahamatullah said.

Muslims make up a small minority religious group in South Sudan, estimated at six per cent of the population, with the majority of citizens identifying as Christians or followers of traditional beliefs.