Sierra Leone's first lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has declined to condemn female genital mutilation (FGM), stating she requires "reliable data" on its harms before taking a public stance, despite widespread condemnation of the practice. In an interview with the Guardian, Maada Bio, who is also president of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (Oaflad), said she does not support forced circumcision but refused to campaign against FGM as a circumcised woman awaiting evidence of its impact in Sierra Leone. Her position follows a letter dated 10 June signed by over 20 health professionals, survivors, and human rights advocates, including former gender minister Amy Smythe and UN expert Isha Dyfan, urging Oaflad to clarify her public statements. The signatories warned that perceived support for FGM could weaken years of advocacy and conflict with national and international commitments. Maada Bio was filmed recently telling sowei, the traditional cutters of the Bondo and Sande societies, not to be afraid and that she stands with them, remarks that Ranya Kargbo, a UN official and FGM survivor, called deeply damaging. Kargbo said the comments effectively gave practitioners carte blanche to continue the practice. Maada Bio claimed her words were taken out of context and intended to foster dialogue with marginalised women. She reiterated that she opposes any form of forced circumcision but has not changed her position of not campaigning for or against the practice. Sierra Leone has no law criminalising FGM, which affects 83% of women, according to a 2019 survey, with 71% cut before age 15. In September 2025, Maada Bio shared an article from the BMJ Journal of Medical Ethics titled "Harms of the current global anti-FGM campaign," which critiques the dominant narrative around FGM. A 2023 ruling by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, issued while President Julius Maada Bio chaired the regional bloc, declared FGM a form of torture and ordered Sierra Leone to criminalise it.
Fatima Maada Bio's refusal to condemn FGM while citing a need for data contradicts her position as a women's rights advocate and leader in a region where the practice is already legally and medically condemned. Her public alignment with sowei, coupled with sharing a controversial article questioning anti-FGM efforts, undermines Sierra Leone's compliance with the ECOWAS court ruling to criminalise the practice. While she claims her words were misinterpreted, the timing and platform amplify a message that protection of tradition outweighs the health and rights of girls. This stance risks normalising state inaction on a violation that affects millions.
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