Published: September 22, 2025
MONROVIA — Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has resurfaced in Lofa County, sparking public outrage and government action despite a national moratorium meant to halt the practice.
In February 2024, Liberia, alongside United Nations partners and traditional leaders, ceremoniously closed Sande society “bush schools” in Vezela, Lofa County. The move was celebrated as a landmark victory in efforts to eliminate FGM.
But in early August 2025, videos circulated on social media showing more than 500 girls graduating from a Sande bush school in Konia, Zorzor District. The footage showed girls seated and singing while older women in traditional attire danced around them. The viral clip, captioned “In Konia, Lofa County, it’s reported that a Sande school graduated 502 girls yesterday,” drew swift condemnation from civil society groups, particularly women-led organizations, who accused local leaders of sabotaging national and international commitments to end FGM.
Chiefs Suspended
Responding to the backlash, the Ministry of Internal Affairs on August 7 suspended Paramount Chief James Tarnue of Lorma Chiefdom and Clan Chief Bigboy Kokulo of Zeyeama Clan for alleged complicity in defying the moratorium.
Following an investigative meeting in Zorzor, Internal Affairs Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin said Zoes and traditional leaders in at least ten communities openly violated the ban. He accused the two chiefs of failing to act, warning that local leaders will be held accountable for allowing illegal practices to continue.
“The Ministry will hold local officials responsible for not enforcing laws and regulations within their areas,” Nyumalin declared. “No one is above the law, and lawlessness will not be entertained under the guise of cherished traditions.”
Defiance of the Ban
The moratorium, effective April 30, 2025, was introduced in consultation with the National Council of Chiefs to halt Sande society bush schools, protect minors from forced initiation, and ensure children’s right to education.
A preliminary ministry assessment found some communities continued to run bush schools for personal and economic gain despite the ban. Officials said the chiefs’ suspensions will remain in effect while investigations continue.
Human Rights Concerns
The World Health Organization has consistently emphasized that FGM offers no health benefits and instead causes lasting physical and psychological harm. Liberia, where an estimated 50% of women and girls between ages 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, remains one of the few countries in West Africa where the practice is still widespread.
As a signatory to the Maputo Protocol and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Liberia is obligated to eliminate FGM. Rights advocates warn that the resurfacing of bush schools undermines those commitments and places hundreds of young girls at risk.
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