The Federal Government of Somalia and the Kingdom of Saud Arabia have agreed to resolve pending issues regarding Somali pilgrims.
The two sides have agreed to undertake measures to ease challenges facing pilgrims during a visit to the holy land.
The announcement was made during a meeting between Somalia’s religious and endowment affairs Minister, Sheikh Nur Mohamed Hassan visits Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
“We agreed with Saudi Hajj and Umrah authorities to ease obstacles faced by Somali pilgrims in 2019.” The Minister for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Nur Mohamed told Somali National News Agency SONNA while on phone in the holy city of Makkah.
Saudi authorities have increased the number of Somali pilgrims performing Hajj during the 2019 Hajj period while lifting travel restrictions to citizens from the horn of the African state following talks between Mogadishu and Riyadh.
Somalia and Saudi Arabia enjoyed close bilateral ties before Mogadishu neutral stance on gulf blockade on the state on Qatar two years ago.
