Ouahigouya court sentences female mutilation practitioner to prison

The High Court of Ouahigouya has sentenced a 34-year-old female genital mutilation practitioner and an accomplice to six months in prison, including one month of firm imprisonment, plus fines. The ruling follows an incident in July 2026 involving an 11-year-old student.

The court heard that the victim was taken to the practitioner's home by her grandmother under the guise of a trip to the market. The grandmother admitted to arranging the procedure to assist her daughter-in-law, while the practitioner claimed she learned the practice years ago in the village of Ségué. The victim's mother reported discovering blood on the child's clothing after the incident, which led to the discovery of the act.