A few weeks before the start of the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj 2023), the government is multiplying initiatives to facilitate the process for pilgrims.
After a successful pilgrimage in 2022, the government wants to provide Beninese pilgrims to Mecca with optimal conditions for their participation in Hajj 2023. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the ambition is even to do better than publishing past.
“We are far from the time when we did not know how the Hajj should be organized. We are far from the time when we needlessly confront each other around something that should normally lead us to act in consultation and in love of our neighbour”. reassured the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Aurélien Agbénonci.
Costs and conditions
The bet, it is the Agency for the management of the logistics of the officials who must raise it. And this structure put in place as part of a broader reform is already at work. “Aglo didn’t want to be surprised by the weather. The Saudi authorities the age restriction at 65 is lifted, the PCR test is no longer required. On the other hand, the anti-covid-19 vaccine is compulsory”, explained Ghislaine Messanh, general manager of the Aglo.
However, to be able to perform Hajj 2023, Beninese pilgrims who wish to do so will have to pay the sum of 3.5 million francs. The deadline for entries is May 18. As for personalized services, everything ends on May 15, 2023.
Also, it should be added that this year, the Saudi kingdom has granted more than 4,600 places to Beninese pilgrims. Compared to last year, the figure is up by more than 50%. Indeed, in 2022, Benin had only been authorized to send some 2,000 pilgrims in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read also: Hadj 2022: why the cost has increased?