Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has strongly denied supporting female genital mutilation (FGM) and accused elements within the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) of orchestrating an international campaign to damage her reputation through anti-FGM activists and sections of the British media.
In a public statement issued on July 8, 2026, Mrs. Bio claimed she was “reliably informed” that after her earlier accusations against the APC, the party shifted tactics.
She alleged they instructed their networks to avoid public attacks on her within Sierra Leone to prevent being perceived as “anti-FGM,” which she said could harm their political standing domestically.
“No one has produced any evidence showing that I have ever promoted FGM,” she asserted, adding that the international campaign had “backfired.”
She emphasized that FGM has never been part of her national programmes or flagship initiatives, such as her “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, which has focused on combating child marriage, sexual violence, and other gender-based issues.
Five Pointed Questions
Mrs. Bio posed five questions to Sierra Leoneans and the international community, highlighting what she described as inconsistencies and selective outrage:
1. Why has Parliament, as the custodian of the people’s will, not voted to ban FGM?
2. Why have lawmakers who opposed the proposed 2025 anti-FGM bill not faced the same level of criticism?
3. Why has she become the singular focus of international scrutiny when FGM is not part of her programmes?
She called for transparency, facts, consistency, and accountability in the debate rather than “selective outrage or politically motivated attacks.”
Background on the Controversy
The accusations stem from public remarks made by Mrs. Bio earlier in 2026, in which she appeared to reassure traditional soweis (FGM practitioners, often linked to the influential Bondo/Sande secret societies) that they had “nothing to fear” and that she stood with them. Critics, including FGM survivors, health professionals, and activists, interpreted these comments—captured on video and widely circulated—as supportive of the practice.
In response to backlash, including an open letter from over 20 advocates and criticism of her invitation to speak at a University of Cambridge event (which was later withdrawn), Mrs. Bio clarified that her words were taken out of context. She stated she does not support any form of forced circumcision and called for reliable data on harms specific to Sierra Leone before taking a firmer stance. She has maintained she is neither campaigning for nor against the practice outright.
FGM in Sierra Leone: Context and Challenges
FGM remains deeply entrenched in Sierra Leonean culture, particularly as an initiation rite into women’s societies. According to the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey, 83% of women aged 15-49 have undergone the procedure (down from around 90% in earlier surveys), with higher rates in rural and northern areas. It is most commonly performed on girls between ages 10-14, though a significant portion occurs later.
There is currently no national law criminalizing FGM in Sierra Leone, despite an ECOWAS Court of Justice ruling describing it as a form of torture and ordering legislation to ban it. A 2025 Child Rights Act signed by President Julius Maada Bio did not include provisions on FGM.
The practice is tied to powerful cultural and social structures, making legislative progress politically sensitive. Bio has previously championed women’s rights and child protection initiatives, but her recent comments have drawn sharp criticism from global and local anti-FGM campaigners who argue leadership statements carry significant weight in influencing attitudes and enforcement.
