The Gambia is mourning after the heartbreaking death of a one-month-old baby girl, believed to have suffered fatal bleeding from female genital mutilation (FGM) — a practice outlawed in the country since 2015.
Police confirmed that the child was rushed to a hospital in Banjul but was pronounced dead on arrival. Though an autopsy is still underway, many Gambians are pointing to FGM as the likely cause. Two women have since been arrested over the incident.
For Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL), a prominent women’s rights group in The Gambia, there is no cultural defence for such harm. “Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield – this is violence, pure and simple,” they declared in a statement. Local MP Abdoulie Ceesay also called it a turning point, saying, “The loss of this innocent child must not be forgotten… let it mark our renewed commitment to protect every child’s life, safety, and dignity.”
FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of a girl’s external genitalia, is still widely practised despite the ban. Statistics show that 73% of Gambian women aged 15–49 have undergone the procedure, often before the age of six. Disturbingly, activists say more babies are now being targeted, as parents believe it’s easier to hide and quicker to heal when done early.
The law prescribes fines, up to three years in prison, and life sentences if the victim dies. Yet, in almost a decade, only two prosecutions have occurred — and just one conviction was secured in 2023. Meanwhile, a small but vocal group continues to push for decriminalising FGM, though parliament rejected repeal efforts last year.
For many Gambians, this baby’s death is more than a tragedy — it’s a painful reminder that laws mean little without enforcement, and that some traditions carry a deadly cost.
