An occasion, chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji , who is expected to hand over some gifts from the Head of State, has been scheduled to take place at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel

Despite all that has been put on deck by government to make this trip a favourable one, The North West community regrets that most of them haven’t been able to join the train this 2019 due to the prevailing sociopolitical unrest in the region, that has affected not only their businesses and livelihood but has pushed many to move to safer areas.

Alhadji Ali Mohammat, Pilgrim leader from the North West, says there have been a drastic drip in their numbers, from over 120 pilgrims to 26.

 " We have been having 120-150 pilgrims but with the crisis this year, most of the pilgrims and the Fulani's(the Mbororos) who have been displaced by the crisis, consequently we have 26”, he said. Amongst the 26, 12 of the pilgrims are women, while 14 are men.

The Muslim community especially the Fulani’s or mbororos have been experiencing tête-à-tête confrontations with armed separatists groups, who have been accusing the latter of acting as government spies against their movement. The Mbororo Cultural and Development Association had recently revealed that over 100 Mbororos have been killed in the past years, property destroyed and several persons displaced. Rearing cattle is of their principal source of income and with the increasing attacks on cattle, many are going bankrupt.

Minister Paul Atanga Nji recently revealed that the first contingent of 2840 pilgrims will leave Cameroon on 29 July 2019 to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the 5th pillar of Islam. He told them that measures have already been taken to ensure the transportation of the pilgrims to Mecca

The pilgrims will be lodged at a hotel located some 400m from the Mosque of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.
Added with today’s support, President Paul Biya had issued the sum of FCFA One billion to pilgrims to reduce the costs of participation.