Grassroots Activists Launch 7,400-Mile Caravan Campaign to End Female Genital Mutilation Across Africa

By Caroline Ameh

African female genital mutilation (FGM) survivors and grassroots activists aims to traverse 20 countries across Africa in a two-year campaign to end the practice. Organized by #FrontlineEndingFGM, the caravan campaign will cover approximately 7,400 miles (12,000km), targeting regions where FGM prevalence remains high.

The campaign, inspired by the “pink bus” movements that emerged nearly a decade ago in the Gambia, seeks to reignite progress in protecting women and girls from the harmful effects of FGM.

Beginning in Mauritania in June and concluding in Djibouti in mid-2026, the caravan will involve activists, medical professionals, and religious leaders from countries such as Nigeria, Sudan, and Cameroon.

Ayo Bello-Awodoyin, leading the Global Media Campaign to end FGM in Nigeria, emphasized the empowerment of grassroots activists through this initiative. “Grassroots activists who have been doing the work but have not really had the backing to do it at this level, will now have the opportunity to come out en masse across different countries and lead these efforts,” Bello-Awodoyin stated.

Despite some progress over the past three decades, FGM prevalence varies across Africa, with countries like Kenya, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Liberia experiencing rapid declines, while others such as the Gambia, Somalia, Mali, and Guinea still witness high levels of support for the practice.

In Sierra Leone, where FGM remains legal despite calls for a ban, renewed efforts for legislative change were prompted by the deaths of three girls during an FGM ritual in January.

Addressing the challenges of eradicating FGM, activists emphasize the importance of tailored advocacy efforts in each region, considering cultural and religious beliefs deeply ingrained in communities. Customized approaches, including radio campaigns and community mobilization in hard-to-reach areas, are essential components of the caravan campaign.

Ifrah Ahmed, an FGM survivor and founder of the Ifrah Foundation, stressed the significance of religious leaders’ involvement in dispelling misconceptions surrounding FGM, particularly in regions like Somalia where the practice is deeply intertwined with religious beliefs.

Documentaries showcasing the health impacts of FGM, including childbirth complications and psychological trauma, will be utilized to raise awareness among communities, especially in camps for internally displaced people.

Also, radio campaigns such as the successful initiative in the Tana River region of Kenya resulting in an 84% decline in the worst form of FGM, highlight the effectiveness of targeted communication strategies.

Despite progress, threats such as the emergence of medicalized FGM in the Horn of Africa and underground practices underscore the ongoing battle against FGM.

Activists remain determined to amplify their efforts through initiatives like the caravan campaign, aiming to educate communities and empower survivors in the fight against this harmful practice.