In Kaya, Burkina Faso, the public prosecutor has requested a 1-year prison sentence, including 6 months hard time, and a fine of 500,000 FCFA for T.K., the main practitioner in a female genital mutilation case involving around 30 victims. The request was made on October 27, 2026, at the Kaya High Court, located at the Boussouma town hall. The court hearing is part of a 3-day trial organized by the Kaya High Court in collaboration with ENABEL.
The case involves 39 individuals accused of female genital mutilation, complicity, or attempted complicity. Five defendants were absent from the hearing. The prosecution based its requests on the Penal Code provisions related to excision and complicity, which carry penalties of 1 to 10 years in prison and fines of 500,000 to 3 million FCFA. The prosecutor differentiated between the situations of each defendant, considering their acts and the evidence collected during the investigation.
For three women accused of helping T.K. perform the mutilations, the prosecutor requested 1-year suspended prison sentences and fines of 500,000 FCFA, with 250,000 FCFA being hard time. Some defendants asked for leniency, promising not to repeat the offense. The hearing also highlighted situations where children were taken to the practitioner without their father's consent, sometimes because the father opposed the practice.
The second part of the prosecution's requests concerns individuals accused of complicity or attempted complicity in excision. For several of them, the prosecutor requested 1-year suspended prison sentences and fines of 500,000 FCFA, with 250,000 FCFA being hard time. One of the defendants, Z.M., is the only man involved in the case, accused of complicity.
Several women accused of taking their daughters or other children to the practitioner are also on trial. Some claimed they acted without informing the father, who was opposed to the practice. Others are accused of taking girls to T.K., with varying charges depending on the facts and the stage at which the interventions were interrupted.
The trial is not only about the sentences but also serves as a platform for education and awareness. Many defendants explained their actions as a return to their "sources," but could not clarify the usefulness of the practice. The prosecution emphasized the need to examine each defendant's actions in light of the charges, distinguishing between completed excisions, attempts, and acts of complicity.
The verdict from the Kaya High Court is expected on October 28, 2026. This trial aims to bring justice closer to the population and raise awareness about the prohibition of female genital mutilation. The case has garnered attention due to its educational and instructive aspects, highlighting the efforts of authorities to combat this practice in Burkina Faso.
Key points
- The public prosecutor has requested a 1-year prison sentence for T.K., the main practitioner in a female genital mutilation case.
- The trial serves as a platform for education and awareness about the prohibition of female genital mutilation.
- The verdict from the Kaya High Court is expected on October 28, 2026.
