Hajj 2026 Registration Opens in South Sudan
The South Sudan Islamic Council says it has opened registration and started preparations for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage (1447 AH). Eligible South Sudanese Muslims are asked to register through the National Office of Hajj and pay at least a $5,000 registration fee.
Juba Press Briefing Sets Hajj 2026 Cost at $5,000
At a Thursday press conference in Juba, the Council’s Secretary-General, Abdullah Baraj, said the pilgrimage cost is set at about $5,000. He presented the figure as a package designed to cover key 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.
National Office of Hajj Expands Branches Across States
Baraj said the National Office of Hajj is now fully operational, with its head office in Juba and branches in several states. He said offices have received instructions to publicise registration and inform local Muslim communities about the process.
“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.
Eligibility Rules: Nationality, Passport and Health Requirements
Baraj stressed that registration is reserved for South Sudanese nationals, describing nationality as a non-negotiable condition. He said a person cannot perform Hajj from South Sudan without South Sudanese nationality.
“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 said.
The Islamic Council said applicants must provide a valid South Sudanese passport, a medical fitness certificate, and other required documents. It also said pilgrims must be between 18 and 60 years old.
Hajj as an Obligation for Those Who Are Able
Baraj framed the pilgrimage as intended for Muslims who are physically and financially capable. He described the Council’s role as encouraging those who are willing and able to fund their own journey to complete the rites.
“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.
Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is obligatory once in a lifetime for Muslims who meet the physical and financial conditions.
Hajj 1447 AH Timing and Mecca Ritual Sites
The pilgrimage is held in and around Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at established holy sites. These include the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, with rites typically taking place over five to six days in June.
The Council said the 2026 Hajj (1447 AH) is expected in late May, with main rituals likely from May 25 to May 30. It noted the dates depend on the sighting of the new moon in Saudi Arabia.
Estimated 1,000 Pilgrim Slots and a Minority Community
Hassan Rahamatullah, Executive Director of the Hajj Affairs Office in South Sudan, said the country may have about 1,000 slots available, depending on registration totals. He said his office is prepared to begin receiving applications as the process moves forward.
“We are ready to receive applications as soon as the registration process officially begins,” Rahamatullah said.
Muslims are described as a small minority in South Sudan, estimated at around six percent of the population, with most citizens identifying as Christians or followers of traditional beliefs.