Burkina Faso trial begins for 39 people accused of female genital mutilation

A mobile court in Boussouma, near Kaya in north-central Burkina Faso, has commenced a three-day trial involving 39 defendants accused of practicing and attempting female genital mutilation (FGM). The group, consisting of 38 women and one man, faces charges related to the mutilation of approximately 30 girls ranging in age from five months to nine years.

During the initial hearings, a primary practitioner, a woman in her sixties, admitted to performing the procedure on young girls for approximately 15 years. She stated she received 2,500 FCFA and a bar of soap per child, often using a blade without gloves. Several other women admitted to assisting by holding the children during the procedures for a fee of 200 FCFA per child.

The sole male defendant admitted to authorizing the mutilation of eight girls, including three of his own children and five of his sisters, claiming ignorance of the practice's illegality. The prosecutor noted that under Burkina Faso law, excision is punishable by one to ten years of imprisonment and fines ranging from 500,000 to three million FCFA. The mobile court aims to both adjudicate the cases and raise public awareness regarding the legal sanctions and health consequences of the practice.