The National Assembly of the Gambia
A coalition of Gambian organizations, including Concerned Citizens, Gambian Women Are Free to Choose, Women’s Association for Islamic Solidarity, and the Islamic Enlightenment Society, has issued a strong rebuke to the Gambian Government’s August 14, 2025, press statement linking the death of Baby Sarjo Conteh to female circumcision. The groups, in a joint statement, condemned the government’s stance as premature and discriminatory, while renewing their call for the repeal of the 2015 ban on female circumcision.
The organizations assert their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, thought, conscience, and belief under the 1997 Constitution, defending their campaign to oppose the ban and advocate for safer alternatives to the practice. They argue that female circumcision, like male circumcision, is deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions for certain families and tribes in The Gambia. The groups reject what they describe as “unsolicited and commercialized” interventions framed as human rights advocacy, accusing foreign donors and local civil society organizations of driving the narrative.
Highlighting what they see as legislative inconsistency, the coalition points out that male circumcision remains legal and widely performed in medical facilities, while female circumcision is criminalized. They claim this disparity violates Section 33 of the 1997 Constitution, which prohibits gender-based discrimination, and contravenes The Gambia’s obligations under international treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Citing a 2024 UNICEF report, they note a 15% global increase in female genital mutilation (FGM) despite bans in many sub-Saharan African countries. Locally, they reference a 2025 report by 28 Too Many, which shows no significant decline in FGM prevalence in The Gambia since the 2015 ban, with slight increases in Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama, and Basse.
The groups express particular concern over the government’s attribution of Baby Sarjo Conteh’s death to female circumcision, a claim they say is unsupported by the autopsy report or police investigation. The medical report from Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), they argue, does not mention female circumcision as the cause of death. They also criticize Honourable Touma Njai, MP for Banjul South, for stating in an August 13, 2025, interview with The Point that the infant’s death was “directly linked” to FGM. The coalition views these statements as a coordinated effort to manipulate evidence and preempt judicial processes, emphasizing that only the courts can determine the cause of death in this sub judice case.
Reiterating their demand for the ban’s repeal, the organizations urge the government to provide a “safe and friendly environment” for female circumcision and to end what they describe as the “harassment, humiliation, and brutalization” of women and children involved in the practice. They accuse the government of aligning with foreign interests at the expense of local cultural values.
The controversy surrounding Baby Sarjo’s death has reignited debate over female circumcision in The Gambia, with the coalition vowing to continue its advocacy within legal bounds. The government has yet to respond to the groups’ latest statement.
