Garango:A woman was sentenced to 24 months of suspended imprisonment by the High Court of Tenkodogo for performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on a nine-year-old girl in Garango, Boulgou province. In addition to the suspended sentence, she was fined 500,000 CFA francs, half of which is to be paid immediately. The judgment was delivered during mobile correctional court hearings from October 13 to 15, 2026.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the incident occurred in August 2026 when the victim's mother took her daughter to an excisionist identified as RA for the procedure. The girl suffered severe bleeding afterward, necessitating urgent medical intervention. She was first admitted to the Garango Medical Center with Surgical Unit (CMA) and later transferred to the Tenkodogo Regional Hospital Center (CHR), where she was hospitalized for nearly a week before recovering.

Three women were implicated in this case. The woman who conducted the FGM was tried and found guilty under a summary procedure. The victim's mother and another woman were prosecuted for complicity and opted for a plea bargain, each paying a fine of 500,000 CFA francs.

The mobile court sessions, held at the base of Mount Boulgou, also served to educate the public about the detrimental effects of FGM on girls' health and physical integrity. The severe hemorrhage in this case highlighted the legal and health risks of the practice, which is prohibited by law. Through these hearings, the Tenkodogo High Court aimed to combine legal enforcement with public awareness efforts.