A one-month-old baby girl has died in The Gambia after undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM), police have confirmed.
Preliminary investigations indicate the infant was allegedly subjected to circumcision and later suffered severe bleeding. She was rushed to Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police said two women suspected of involvement in the incident are in custody as investigations continue. The body has been transferred to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital mortuary for further examination.
FGM, a practice involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, is deeply rooted in some Gambian communities despite being outlawed in 2015. Human rights advocates say enforcement remains a challenge, with the practice still carried out in secret by traditional practitioners.
In a statement, the Gambia Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable people and urged the public to report any harmful cultural practices to the nearest police station.
“This is a tragic reminder of the dangers of FGM and the urgent need for vigilance,” a police spokesperson said.
FGM is internationally recognised as a human rights violation and is linked to severe health risks, including excessive bleeding, infections, complications in childbirth, and even death.
