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Law vs Tradition: Why FGM Persists Despite the Gambia’s Ban

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For many communities in The Gambia, the 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) has not ended the practice—it has simply pushed it out of public view. Speaking in Kiang Kaiaf, lower River Region of The Gambia, in March 2026, Mrs. Manding Kassama states that FGM is deeply embedded in tradition and cannot be easily abandoned, despite increasing awareness of its harmful effects. “FGM has been practised for many years. That is why it will be difficult for us to abolish it,” she said. While medical evidence has consistently shown the risks associated with the practice—especially during childbirth—Kassama says cultural and religious beliefs continue to shape attitudes in her community. “We often hear that FGM causes health problems, but for us, it is part of our tradition and religion. It is not easy to stop it abruptly,” she added. A Practice Driven Underground Although FGM was criminalised in 2015, the practice remains widespread. About 73% of women aged 15–49 in The Gambia have underg...
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Youth Leader Condemns ‘Sealing’ but Supports Circumcision in FGM Debate

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In a deeply polarising intervention in The Gambia’s ongoing debate on female genital mutilation (FGM), Kiang East District Youth Chairperson Kutubo Kassama has condemned the most severe form of the practice—commonly known as “sealing”—while expressing support for what he describes as “circumcision.” His remarks reflect a growing but controversial narrative among some community voices seeking a middle ground between cultural traditions and human rights concerns in a country where FGM remains highly prevalent. More than 73 per cent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in The Gambia have already undergone the practice, many before the age of five. Speaking during an interview in March 2026, Kassama was unequivocal in his rejection of “sealing,” also known as infibulation, describing it as harmful and unacceptable. “Sealing is completely bad and should not be encouraged in any way. Women who go through it face a lot of challenges, especially in the early days of marriage,” he said. However, de...
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Islamic Scholar Says Anti-FGM Law Violates Religious Rights

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A prominent Islamic scholar in Kiang Kaiaf Village, Lower River Region of the Gambia, Mr. Bakary Sanneh, has spoken out against the national ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), arguing that the law infringes on religious and cultural rights. Speaking in March 2026, Mr. Sanneh drew a distinction between what he described as harmful “mutilation” and “female circumcision” (Type I), which he claims is rooted in Sunnah tradition and associated with modesty and cleanliness. “Proponents of the ban have imposed what they call a ‘worst law’ to satisfy Western donors, ignoring the religious and cultural freedoms guaranteed in the 1997 Constitution,” he said. Sanneh asserts that, as a Muslim, he believes the practice is religiously rooted. “If it were not good, the religion would have clearly condemned it,” he argued. However, national data tells a more complex story. According to the Demographic and Health Surveys Program 2019–2020 survey, about 73% of women aged 15–49 in The Gambia have und...
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Barrow’s Final SoNA: Growth, Reforms and a Push for Inclusive Development

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When President Adama Barrow delivered his final State of the Nation Address (SoNA) of the current term on Thursday, March 26, 2026, he did more than present statistics—he offered a broad narrative of a country in transition, balancing economic growth with social reforms aimed at inclusion and long-term resilience. From digital transformation and agriculture to health, education and social protection, the address painted a picture of a government attempting to modernise while responding to everyday realities faced by citizens across The Gambia. A Digital Shift Driving Growth At the heart of the President’s message is the growing role of technology. With mobile subscriptions surpassing 3.4 million and ICT sector employment rising by nearly 20 per cent, the digital economy is increasingly shaping national development. “In 2025, digital transformation acted as a key driver of growth, jobs, and efficient governance,” Barrow said. The sector’s contribution—exceeding D3.9 billion—reflects a w...
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Gambia to Inaugurate Specialized GBV Court by Second Quarter of 2026

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President Adama Barrow The Government of The Gambia has constructed a specialised court to handle gender-based violence (GBV) cases, with plans to inaugurate the facility in the second quarter of 2026, President Adama Barrow has announced. The development, revealed during the 2026 State of the Nation Address held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, marks a significant step toward strengthening access to justice for survivors of GBV and addressing delays often associated with such cases in conventional courts. According to the President, the establishment of the court underscores the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring the timely prosecution of GBV-related offences. Once operational, the court is expected to provide faster case handling, survivor-sensitive procedures, and improved coordination among justice actors. “To prevent delays in administering justice regarding GBV, a specialised court has been built and is scheduled to be inaugurated in the second ...
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Bound by Tradition, Divided by Choice: Women in LRR Debate FGM

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PC: AI-Generated Bound by Tradition, Divided by Choice: Women in LRR Debate FGM A decade after the Women's (Amendment) Act 2015 outlawed female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia, women in the Lower River Region (LRR) remain deeply divided — caught between loyalty to tradition and growing awareness of its risks. Despite years of advocacy, UNICEF data shows that about three in four Gambian women aged 15–49 have undergone FGM, making the country one of the highest-prevalence nations worldwide. Although the rate among younger girls is believed to be decreasing, the practice persists — often in secrecy. Interviews conducted in March 2026 across Jarra and Kiang reveal a complex and often contradictory reality. For some women, FGM is a deeply rooted cultural and religious obligation; for others, it is a harmful practice they are determined to end. “It is Sunnah” — Faith and Conviction Fatoumata Barrow, a resident of Jarra Soma, firmly defends the practice, describing it as a religiou...
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“I Refused the Knife”: The Gambian Woman Who Ended a Generational FGM Legacy

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            PC: AI Generated “They told me it was the mark of a woman; I decided it was the scar of a secret I refused to carry.” When Mrs. Nyaranding Cham was asked to inherit the title of “Ngansingbaa”—the community’s traditional cutter—after her mother’s passing, she made a decision that would quietly transform her village: she refused. It was a hot afternoon in March 2026. As the sun softened and a cool breeze drifted through Kolior in Kiang, Lower River Region, families prepared to break their fast. In a quiet compound just off the Trans-Gambia Highway, Nyaranding, believed to be in her late 70s or early 80s, sat on a cement platform at the centre of her home. Around her, younger women moved between the kitchen and courtyard, preparing the evening meal. Her voice was low, strained, and unsteady, but her message was firm. “We are the custodians of the knife in Kolior,” she said. “My grandmother was a cutter. When she passed, my mother inherited it. And when my mother died, the vill...
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