A one-month-old baby girl from Wellingara, The Gambia, allegedly bled to death on 10 August after undergoing female circumcision. The tragic case has triggered shock across the country, propelling the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) back into national focus as authorities move swiftly from arrests to formal prosecutions – raising new questions about how effectively The Gambia’s anti-FGM laws are being enforced.
Police Launch Investigation
In an initial statement released on 10 August, the Gambia Police Force confirmed it had opened an investigation into the death of the infant.
“Preliminary findings indicate the child was allegedly subjected to circumcision and later developed severe bleeding. She was rushed to Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Two women alleged to be involved in the case are in police custody as investigations continue,” the police reported.
They confirmed the child’s body had been transferred to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) mortuary for further examination. “The Gambia Police Force reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all vulnerable persons and urges the public to report any harmful practices to the nearest police station.”
Prosecutions Begin
Just two days later, on 12 August, police confirmed that formal charges had been laid.
“Following the Police flash report of August 10, 2025, regarding the death of a one-month-old baby girl in Wellingara, suspected to be linked to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), three women have now been charged under the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015,” the statement read.
Fatou Camara, the first accused, has been charged under Section 32A – Prohibition of Female Circumcision – an offence which carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment. She is currently remanded in custody following a court appearance before Magistrate Sambou at Brikama Magistrates’ Court.
Two others, Oumie Sawaneh and Hawa Conteh, have been charged under Section 32B as accomplices. Both women have been granted bail, as the offence is legally bailable.
“The GPF reiterates its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all vulnerable persons and urges the public to report any harmful traditional practices to the nearest police station,” the statement concluded.
Activists Respond
Among those voicing sorrow and determination in the wake of the baby’s death was Penda S. Bah, a long-time anti-FGM campaigner and mother.
“As an advocate of FGM, and as a mother, I feel so sad and disappointed upon hearing the death of the 1 old baby, but on the other hand, I am happy that the authorities are doing the needful, giving justice to the innocent baby,” she said.
“My observation is that I believe justice will be served this time since it’s now a national issue or case. The case has just increased my attention and strength to fight more for the eradication of FGM, because I still can’t believe a 1 one year old baby can go through such pain, meaning no age is then safe from this horrible act.”
“I believe this case will serve as an eye-opener to many people in the communities and the country at large. Witnessing such a sad case in a country, I believe, is an alarming situation where every woman should come forward to condemn it and stand firmly against female genital mutilation. We need more sensitisation and awareness in the communities, as FGM is becoming more scary daily.”
‘Underground Practice Still Exists’
Fallu Sowe, National Coordinator of the Network Against Gender Based Violence (NGBV), described the incident as both heartbreaking and evidence of a deeply rooted problem.
“It was shocking and sading to me when I heard the news of the one-month-old infant who allegedly died of FGM after all the advocacy and awareness raising on the harmful effects of FGM,” Sowe said.
“For me, the case serves as evidence that many practising communities in The Gambia did not abandon FGM but continue to practise it on baby girls to hide from the law. They are performing FGM on babies because it is easy to hide when it is done on babies. They know it is prohibited by law, but because the law is not effectively enforced and community members hardly report cases, they can violate the law without consequences.”
He emphasised the need for increased oversight of children’s health to prevent FGM.
“I think the government needs to do more, especially regarding the monitoring of babies to ensure they are not subjected to the practice and to prevent such incidents. The government, through its law enforcement agencies, must ensure that all reported cases are thoroughly investigated and fairly prosecuted to deter others from engaging in FGM.”
He called for justice to be served “without fear or favour” and highlighted the ongoing need for awareness raising, especially around the reproductive health consequences of FGM and the legal implications.
“This will prevent others from subjecting their babies to FGM,” he added.
Lawmakers Weigh In
National Assembly Member and gender committee representative Alhagie Mbow said the case was a wake-up call, underlining both enforcement and cultural challenges.
“As a lawmaker and a citizen of this country, I feel ashamed if the death of this young child was caused by the FGM. The loss of a child, no matter the cause, is an absolute pain to any parent or family,” Mbow said.
“The biggest challenge is to convince the practitioners about the dangers, especially in this day and age, where diseases are rampant and the procedure is being done and care is given by non-medical professionals. Implementing the law is slow, but one of the issues is that people are not reporting these cases.”
He stressed the importance of community involvement.
“The police cannot be in every place at all times, and this is where community support becomes extremely important, not only in reporting cases but also in discussing the dangers of this act. The region I represent does not practise it, but as a Gambian and a member of the gender committee, I have a responsibility to the nation.”
Mbow called for increased public education across all media.
“I strongly believe sensitisation needs to be beefed up at all levels – face-to-face, TV, radio, and various social media outlets across the country.”
He encouraged the Ministry of Gender to develop more comprehensive programmes and assured parliamentary support, while acknowledging the scale of the challenge.
“It will take generational sensitisation as it is entrenched in some cultures, and eradicating them will not be an easy task, but working with the younger ones from schools, communities may eradicate it in the long run.”
Legal Framework
The Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015 criminalises the practice of FGM in The Gambia.
Under Section 32A, performing female circumcision is punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of GMD 50,000, or both. If the act results in death, the offender can face life imprisonment. Section 32B covers those who aid or abet the practice.
The case has surfaced just a year after The Gambia’s National Assembly voted on 15 July 2024 to uphold the anti-FGM law, rejecting an attempt to repeal it — a sign that while the legal framework exists, the fight to end FGM is far from over.