Digital War Between Malian Pro-FGM Activists and West African Feminists

Mali's Legal Vacuum

The digital conflict over female genital mutilation (FGM) finds its epicenter in Mali, a nation where the practice remains alarmingly prevalent and lacks explicit legal prohibition. According to the latest demographic and health survey (EDSM-VII, 2023-2024), a staggering 89% of Malian women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM. This legal vacuum stands in stark contrast to the broader West African region, where most countries have outlawed the practice. The absence of a clear ban creates a permissive environment, allowing pro-FGM sentiments to openly proliferate, as evidenced by the recent online campaign.

Feminist activists, both within Mali and across West Africa, have been quick to highlight this legislative gap. They argue that while Mali's 2024 Penal Code condemns "sexual aggressions and other gender-based violations," it does not specifically address FGM, leaving a critical loophole. Furthermore, Mali is a signatory to the Maputo Protocol, an international instrument that explicitly calls for the elimination of FGM. This discrepancy between international commitments and domestic legal frameworks fuels the ongoing struggle and provides a basis for activists to challenge the authorities.

Transnational Digital Battleground

The recent controversy ignited when a graphic video depicting a young girl undergoing FGM in rural Mali was posted on TikTok. This act served as a catalyst, prompting a swift and indignant response from West African feminists. However, instead of a favorable reaction from authorities, a conservative backlash emerged, manifesting as an organized pro-FGM digital campaign. This campaign featured AI-generated posters of influential Malian men, including religious figures like Imam Dicko, proudly endorsing FGM with slogans like "Yes to excision: let's protect girls, build their future."

The visibility of this pro-FGM campaign was inadvertently amplified by the very outrage it provoked. As noted by Jérémy Cauden of Afriques connectées, it was the feminist counter-mobilization that brought this taboo subject into the public sphere, giving it wider reach. Activists from Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Niger, and Benin united, massively sharing the hashtag #UneLoiUneFoiUnPeuple, originally launched by Malian feminists. This coordinated digital response transformed the local incident into a transnational "digital war," highlighting the interconnectedness of advocacy efforts across the region.

European Legal Leverage

A crucial turning point in this digital conflict involved the identification and targeting of pro-FGM activists residing in Europe. Feminist groups, including Tabara Touré from Guinea and Kadiatou Konaté from the Club des jeunes filles leaders de Guinée, discovered that several prominent proponents of FGM were operating from countries like Spain, Belgium, and France. These individuals, often influential figures like preachers and businessmen, were using European platforms to disseminate their pro-FGM messages, often invoking religious justifications.

The activists strategically leveraged the stricter legal frameworks against FGM in European nations. For instance, Tabara Touré and Salamatou Alassane Bibi from Niger contacted Spanish authorities, including the Kirira Foundation, the Red Cross, and government ministries, regarding Koué Diakité, a Malian preacher advocating FGM from Spain. This pressure led to Diakité deleting his posts. Similarly, Kanimakan Traoré, another virulent pro-FGM advocate based in France, removed his content from X after an interview with French police. This tactic of engaging European authorities proved effective, demonstrating that while the fight against FGM is deeply rooted in African societies, its digital manifestations can be challenged through international legal and administrative channels, even culminating in street protests in Paris.