The spiritual journey to Mecca has officially begun for Somali pilgrims, as the first group departed for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday.
This marks the beginning of the annual Hajj pilgrimage season for Somalia, with more than 10,000 faithful expected to partake in the sacred Islamic duty this year.
The Somali Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments has coordinated closely with Saudi authorities to ensure smooth travel and adequate support for the pilgrims throughout their journey.
The departure underscores Somalia’s growing organizational capacity to facilitate such a large-scale religious mission, and it holds deep spiritual and communal significance for many Somali families.