Mali: Malian Women Resist Renewed Support for Female Genital Mutilation

What the report says

A recent analysis published by the Institute for Security Studies through AllAfrica says a coordinated online campaign supporting female genital mutilation, also called excision, has appeared in Mali and is reviving debate over women’s rights, tradition and national sovereignty. The campaign surfaced in August after a Bamako-based non-governmental group put up posters against the practice, which remains legal in Mali. The pro-FGM posts reportedly used national symbols and messages framing cutting as a way to protect girls.

The article says the practice remains widespread despite years of opposition from Malian women’s rights advocates and health voices. It adds that Mali’s 2024 Penal Code condemns violence generally but does not specifically outlaw FGM. The piece cites Mali’s latest Demographic and Health Survey as showing very high prevalence among women aged 15 to 49, while the rate among girls aged 0 to 14 is lower than before, suggesting a possible but modest decline.

According to the analysis, supporters of the practice often describe it as tradition or a religious duty, while opponents argue it is harmful and used to control women’s bodies. The author says some online material appears to rely on AI-generated images, making the campaign’s true scale difficult to verify. The Mali National Human Rights Commission called on authorities on 26 August to criminalize FGM, and the article says women’s groups, health professionals and some public figures have pushed back against the renewed pro-cutting messaging.