- FGM/C Research Initiative

Prevalence

Prevalence rates among Somali ethnic communities across the Horn of Africa remain high at 90%+, in many places almost universal prevalence (99.2%). In Ethiopia and Kenya, national prevalence rates are lower at 65.2% and 14.8% respectively.

Religious engagement

Fatwas have been issued in Puntland (2014) and Somaliland (2018) banning pharaonic (Type 3) cutting which prior to the fatwas was the most commonly practiced type among Somali ethnic communities.

Legislation

There are national laws against FGM/C in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. There are no laws against FGM/C in Somaliland or Somalia.

Data gaps

Despite the global headline message that there is little or no change in FGM/C among Somali communities, significant change is happening at the subnational level and in the type of cutting practiced, but data, evidence and evaluation of interventions are limited.

Country Profiles