| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Subsaharan |
| Outrage as baby dies after genital mutilation in The Gambia |
| 2025-08-11 |
| [BBC] The death of a one-month-old baby girl who was the victim of female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia ... The Gambia is actually surrounded by The Senegal on all sides but its west coast. It has a population of about 1.7 million. The difference between the two is that in colonial days Senegal was ruled by La Belle France and The Gambia (so-called because there's only one of it, unlike Guinea, of which there are the Republic of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, New Guinea, the English coin in circulation between 1663 and 1813, and Guyana, which sounds like it should be another one) was ruled by Britain... has sparked widespread outrage. The baby was rushed to a hospital in the capital, Banjul, after she developed severe bleeding, but was pronounced dead on arrival, police said. Although an autopsy is still being conducted to establish the cause of her death, many people have linked it to FGM, or female circumcision, a cultural practice outlawed in the West African state. "Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield, this is violence, pure and simple," a leading non-governmental organization, Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL), said in a statement. Two women had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the baby's death, police said. The MP for the Kombo North District where the incident happened emphasised the need to protect children from harmful practices that rob them of their health, dignity, and life. "The loss of this innocent child must not be forgotten. Let it mark a turning-point and a moment for our nation to renew its unwavering commitment to protecting every child's right to life, safety, and dignity," Abdoulie Ceesay said. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |