Sierra Leone enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in 2024 to regulate practices affecting minors. Despite this legal framework, the Awoko newspaper reported in June 2026 that Bondo initiation rites have faced scrutiny regarding their underlying motivations. The National Ceremonial Chairman of the Council of Traditional Healers issued warnings during that month, stating that these initiation practices were increasingly driven by financial gain. These developments reflect ongoing debates within the country concerning the commercialization of traditional ceremonies following the 2024 legislative changes. The government remains focused on monitoring the implementation of the act while traditional leadership addresses concerns about the evolving nature of these societal rites. The National Ceremonial Chairman of the Council of Traditional Healers specifically noted that the shift toward profit-oriented initiation ceremonies undermines the cultural integrity of the long-standing Bondo tradition. By prioritizing monetary incentives, the ceremony risks losing its traditional purpose, leading to increased oversight from both the Council of Traditional Healers and government entities tasked with enforcing the 2024 legislation.
Scale of FGM Risks
UNICEF released global estimates in 2024 indicating that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. This data encompasses individuals residing across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The sheer magnitude of this figure, as reported by UNICEF, shows the persistence of the practice despite international efforts to curb it. Complementing these findings, the World Health Organization estimates that more than four million girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation every year. These figures represent the international scale of health concerns regarding the practice. Authorities and health organizations continue to monitor these trends to assess the impact on populations globally. The data provided by the World Health Organization serves as a critical metric for policymakers who are working to mitigate the physical and psychological risks associated with the practice across various continents.
Trends in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s 2019 Demographic and Health Survey recorded that approximately 83 per cent of women and girls aged 15–49 had undergone female genital mutilation. This figure represented a decline from the 90 per cent prevalence rate documented in the 2013 survey. The 2019 Demographic and Health Survey data provides a longitudinal perspective on how the prevalence of female genital mutilation has shifted within the nation over a six-year period. This reduction suggests a changing landscape in public health awareness and the social acceptance of these rites.
Politico SL documented a separate initiative within Port Loko District involving approximately 70 young initiates. These participants engaged in a Bondo ceremony that excluded the cutting ritual. The initiative in Port Loko District serves as a primary example of how communities are exploring alternative methods of maintaining the Bondo ceremony while removing the specific practice of cutting. By involving approximately 70 young initiates, this event demonstrates a localized effort to preserve the social and cultural aspects of the initiation rites without subjecting participants to the health risks identified by the World Health Organization. Such initiatives are being closely observed to determine if they can serve as a model for broader changes in traditional practices across Sierra Leone. The documentation by Politico SL of this specific event notes the ongoing shift in how traditional ceremonies are being adapted to align with contemporary health standards and legal frameworks.
