Somalia Steps Up Support for Pilgrims during Hajj Season

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The federal government of Somalia has intensified efforts to improve services for Somali pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj, with the Minister of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, Mukhtar Robow Ali, personally inspecting accommodation and welfare arrangements in the Saudi city of Madinah.

The minister visited several hotels hosting Somali worshippers and received detailed briefings from officials at Somalia’s Hajj Affairs Office on the delivery of transport, accommodation and support services for pilgrims.

During the tour, Mukhtar Robow Ali also met Somali pilgrims directly to assess their conditions and hear feedback on the services being provided.

The minister instructed Hajj coordinators to ensure Somali pilgrims receive professional, efficient and high-quality assistance throughout their stay, reflecting what authorities described as the federal government’s commitment to protecting the welfare of its citizens abroad.

More than 11,500 Somali pilgrims have already arrived in Madinah this year, with Somali authorities overseeing one of the country’s largest coordinated Hajj operations in recent years.

The visit highlights broader federal government efforts to modernize and strengthen Hajj management systems following years of reforms aimed at improving transparency, organization and service delivery for Somali pilgrims.

The federal government has expanded coordination with Saudi authorities and increased oversight of travel, accommodation and welfare arrangements to ensure Somali pilgrims perform their religious obligations in safe and dignified conditions.

For Somalia, the improved management of Hajj services is also seen as part of wider institutional reforms by the federal government to strengthen public service delivery and rebuild confidence in national institutions after decades of administrative challenges.