Registration for this year’s Moslem pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia is open and ends on July 20.

According to a statement by René Emmanuel Sadi, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, who is also the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, the cost of the 2015 Moslem pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia has been increased by FCFA 259,000.

Minister René Emmanuel Sadi explains that the hike was informed by the introduction of a compulsory feeding fee by Saudi authorities and the high US Dollar exchange rate.

Accordingly, the overall cost of the trip now stands at FCFA 2,154,000. A breakdown of the amount shows that FCFA 915,000 is for airfare, FCFA 612,980 for lodging in Mecca and Medina, FCFA 172,810 for basic Saudi services and FCFA 124,140 for supplementary MOASSASSA services. Others are FCFA 141,070 for feeding in Mecca and Medina, FCFA 100,000 refundable charge, FCFA 17,500 for medical and administrative assistance, FCFA 55,000 as management charge and FCFA 15,500 as Hajj One-stop-shop fee.

Meanwhile, registration for the pilgrimage opened on June 17, 2015 at the Hajj One-stop-shop and will run till July 20, 2015. Intending pilgrims in the course of registration are expected to mention their name, National Identity Card or biometric Passport number and its period of validity. A total of 4,500 pilgrims from Cameroon will be accepted for this year’s trip.

The list of registered pilgrims is to be sent to Saudi authorities on July 20, 2015, immediately after registration ends. However, if 4,500 pilgrims are registered before July 20, 2015, the process will immediately be stopped.

Concerning airlift of pilgrims from Cameroon to Saudi Arabia, the national carrier, Cameroon Airlines, Camair-Co, has been given the charge. The provisional travel schedule shows that the airlift to Saudi Arabia will run from September 1-10, 2015, while return flights are expected to last from October 1-10, 2015.

Minister René Emmanuel Sadi has therefore appealed to all intending pilgrims to get in touch with accredited Hajj managers as soon as possible. These are the only people authorised to register pilgrims at the Hajj One-stop-shop.