Mali

The regions with the highest prevalence of FGM/C are in the south and south-west of the country: Sikasso (96.0%), Koulikoro (95.9%) and Kayes (94.7%).

It should be noted that the figure of 88.6% for the overall prevalence of FGM/C in Mali does not include the rural regions of Kidal, which could not be surveyed.  Although the effect of this on the overall prevalence is likely to be small, the results should be interpreted with caution.

70% of women and 68% of men aged 15–49 believe that FGM/C is a requirement of their religion, while 75.8% of women and 74.4% of men aged 15-49 believe that the practice should continue.

The DHS 2018 does not provide data on FGM/C prevalence according to people’s ethnic or religious groups. In the DHS 2012–2013, the ethnic group with highest prevalence of FGM/C was the Sarakolé/Soninké/Marka, at 96% of women aged 15–49, and the ethnic group with the lowest prevalence was the Tamachek/Bélla, at 62.7%.  Although only a small number of women from the Tamachek/Bélla were surveyed, it is worth noting that in countries such as Burkina Faso there is also a low prevalence of FGM/C among the Bélla.

FGM/C in Mali is practised by people of all the major religions:  in 2012–2013, 92.8% of Muslim women aged 15–49 had been cut, as had 77.2% of Animiste women and 65.2% of Christian women.  Of women who did not adhere to any major faith, 91.4% had undergone FGM/C.

The results of the DHS 2018 cannot be compared directly with those of the DHS 2012–2013, since in the latter it was not possible to survey the three northern-most regions (Tomboctou, Kidal and Gao) due to armed conflict there.  It is possible, however, to make cautious comparisons with the DHS 2006, which covered the entire country.  In 2006, the overall prevalence of FGM/C was found to be 85.2%, suggesting that the prevalence of the practice has remained broadly constant in recent years.