Sierra Leone High Court Opens Trial Over Alleged Forced FGM

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone,— Sierra Leone’s High Court has opened the trial of five people accused of forcibly subjecting a woman to female genital mutilation (FGM), in a closely watched case that could test the use of existing criminal law to prosecute allegations of forced initiation into the country’s traditional Bondo Society.

Prosecutors allege that the complainant was forcibly initiated into the society on May 7, 2026, in the Quarry Moyeba community in Kissy, eastern Freetown. According to the prosecution, she was subjected to female genital cutting without her consent, detained against her will and later escaped before reporting the incident to the Ross Road Police Station on May 28.

The five accused are Mariama Kargbo, also known as “Kuttie”; Ramatu Turay, alias “Waka Pa Dem”; Mabinty Bangura, alias “Sampa”; Adama Kamara, also known as “Nanday Porto” or “Nandewa”; and Abubakarr Fadika, alias “DJ Bakarr.”

They have been indicted on charges of conspiracy and causing grievous bodily harm. The indictment alleges that the accused conspired to unlawfully maim the complainant’s clitoris, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861.

The case is being heard before Justice Tonia Barnett at the High Court in Freetown.

The complainant gave evidence during the opening of the trial, telling the court how she was allegedly taken to the initiation ceremony and subjected to the procedure against her will. The court adjourned proceedings until July 20, when defence counsel is expected to begin cross-examining the prosecution’s first witness.

The accused have not yet opened their defence. Under Sierra Leonean law, every person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Female genital mutilation remains widely practised in Sierra Leone as part of initiation into the Bondo Society, despite decades of campaigns by women’s rights organisations, civil society groups and international partners seeking its abolition. Supporters of the practice describe it as an important cultural tradition, while opponents argue that it violates the rights, bodily autonomy and health of women and girls.

Sierra Leone has no law that expressly criminalises female genital mutilation. However, prosecutors have relied on provisions of existing criminal legislation, including offences relating to grievous bodily harm, where the procedure is alleged to have been carried out through force or without the informed consent of the complainant.

The proceedings are expected to be closely followed by legal practitioners, human rights advocates and traditional leaders, as the case may provide further judicial guidance on how existing criminal laws apply to allegations of forced female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone.

Background

The issue of female genital mutilation remains one of Sierra Leone’s most sensitive public policy debates. Although the practice has not been outlawed, successive governments have faced increasing calls from domestic and international human rights organisations to enact legislation protecting women and girls from forced or non-consensual initiation. At the same time, traditional leaders have argued that any reforms should respect cultural practices while safeguarding fundamental human rights.

The High Court’s eventual judgment is therefore likely to attract significant national and international attention, particularly regarding the extent to which existing criminal laws can be used to address alleged cases of forced female genital mutilation in the absence of a specific statutory prohibition.