A one-month-old girl in Gambia has died following suspected complications from female genital mutilation (FGM), sparking public anger.
She was taken to a hospital in Banjul on Sunday after severe bleeding but was declared dead on arrival. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results, though many believe her injuries came from the procedure.
Police confirmed the arrest of two women linked to the incident.
Local activists and community leaders have called for stronger action to shield children from such practices.
Women in Liberation and Leadership, a Gambian rights group, described the event as a serious abuse of the child’s rights.
A lawmaker from Kombo North urged the country to commit fully to protecting children’s lives and dignity.
The World Health Organization defines FGM as procedures involving the partial or full removal of external female genitalia or injury to female genital organs for non-medical purposes.
Although Gambia outlawed FGM in 2015, enforcement has been weak, and the custom remains common, affecting around 75% of women aged 15 to 49, according to UN data.
In July 2024, lawmakers voted against repealing the ban after heated national debate. WHO estimates that over 230 million women and girls worldwide have undergone FGM.