Key facts
- Sierra Leone's First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, stated she requires 'reliable data' on the harms of female genital mutilation (FGM) before condemning it.
- Her remarks have drawn criticism from health professionals, human rights activists, and politicians.
- A letter was sent to the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (Oaflad) demanding clarification on her public statements.
- Sierra Leone has one of the highest rates of FGM globally, with 83% of women cut in 2019.
- There is currently no law criminalizing FGM in Sierra Leone.
- An Ecowas court ruling previously classified FGM as torture and ordered Sierra Leone to enact legislation against it.
Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, has denied supporting female genital mutilation (FGM) but stated she requires "reliable data" on its harms before condemning the practice. This stance has ignited anger among health professionals, survivors, and human rights activists, who fear it undermines years of advocacy and international commitments.
In an exclusive response to The Guardian, Maada Bio, who is also the president of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (Oaflad), clarified that her comments were intended to foster dialogue and reassure marginalized women. She asserted that she is not campaigning for or against circumcision and expects to see concrete evidence demonstrating the extent of harm caused by FGM in Sierra Leone.
A group of over 20 signatories, including former minister Amy Smythe and human rights lawyer Isha Dyfan, penned a letter to Oaflad expressing their concerns. They warned that perceptions of support for FGM, whether direct or indirect, could jeopardize progress and create misalignment with established national and international obligations.
Maada Bio, a former film producer and actor, has also faced controversy regarding her rental of a council flat in London for her British children, which Southwark council has since repossessed. Despite leading a campaign called "Hands off our girls" against child marriage, she has not publicly condemned FGM since her husband's election in 2018.
Female genital mutilation, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, can lead to severe long-term health consequences, including infertility, and is recognized as a violation of human rights. Sierra Leone has a high prevalence of FGM, with a 2019 survey indicating 83% of women had undergone the procedure, down from 90% in 2013. Currently, there is no law in Sierra Leone criminalizing FGM, which is often performed as part of traditional rituals by influential Bondo and Sande societies.
Ranya Kargbo, a senior UN professional and FGM survivor who signed the letter, criticized Maada Bio's public statements to cutters, calling them "powerful words from the highest office" that could be interpreted as offering full support and resources. Maada Bio countered that her criticism was directed at individuals she believes have misrepresented her position.
Last year, the Ecowas court of justice ruled that FGM constitutes "one of the worst forms of violence against women" and ordered Sierra Leone to enact legislation criminalizing the practice. This ruling occurred shortly after President Bio assumed the chairmanship of Ecowas. He has not publicly acknowledged the ruling, and the Child Rights Act 2025, signed into law last October, does not include provisions addressing FGM.