25 Sudanese pilgrims missing in Saudi Arabia

The Sudanese Pilgrimage Mission in Saudi Arabia has reportedly despaired of finding 25 Sudanese pilgrims from Red Sea state, who have gone missing in Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj.

While the Mission itself has not commented on the cases, sources told Radio Dabanga that the passports of the missing pilgrims have been handed to the unified agents’ bureau. This is sure indication that the mission has lost hope of finding the pilgrims.

Journalist Osman Hashim reports that six people went missing before the Hajj, and a further 19 were reported missing after the Arafat rituals. There is no indication of whether those listed as missing have lost their way to the mission’s office, or have just left of their own accord.

‘Fraud’

This year’s Hajj has been surrounded by controversy in Sudan, after MPs complained that at least six federal Ministers performed the pilgrimage on September at state expense. In late September, independent MP Salah Ahmed El Nur complained that a delegation of six federal Ministers and State Ministers and two staff members had travelled to Mecca to represent the Sudanese government at a cost of €7,000 per person.

Fatalities

Earlier this month, the Sudanese Pilgrimage Mission, reported that approximately 13 Sudanese pilgrims died during this year’s Hajj, the majority of natural causes.

The Mission, that deals with matters surrounding the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, says that 12 of the known deaths were by natural causes, while one Sudanese national died in a road traffic accident.

The Sudanese medical mission in Mecca said at the time that most of the Sudanese who were admitted to hospitals during the Hajj have now been discharged, however eight people are still receiving treatment.

Last year's Hajj, was afflicted by a double tragedy. On 11 September 2015, some days before the start of the Hajj, a construction crane collapsed at the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, killing 109 people including many foreigners. Reportedly nine Sudanese pilgrims also died in a stampede and crush near Mecca.