MAKENI, BOMBALI DISTRICT #July 25, 2025 A young woman’s life is in peril after a brutal forced initiation into a female secret society, an incident that has starkly highlighted the ongoing tensions between traditional practices and human rights advocacy in rural Sierra Leone.
The victim, Kadiatu Kobie, was visiting relatives in the remote Makama Village when she was reportedly abducted by local women acting on the orders of village elders. She was taken to the sacred “Bondo bush,” a traditional site for female initiations, which typically involve Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The situation escalated when Kobie, in a desperate bid for freedom, managed to escape under the cover of night during the initiation rituals. She is now seeking refuge in a nearby town. However, her flight has placed her in even greater danger. According to sources familiar with the society’s customs, her escape before the initiation was complete is considered a severe transgression, and her life is believed to be at constant risk if she is found by its members
The repercussions have extended to her family, who are now facing serious threats from village elders and society women. The community leaders reportedly blame the family for Kobie’s escape.
Commenting on the ongoing practice, a senior village elder who identified herself as Nana acknowledged the persistent conflict. She noted that despite sustained advocacy by international partners and local groups against the Bondo society’s practices, they continue in some parts of Sierra Leone. She described this as a clear violation of United Nations conventions that the country has signed.
The incident underscores the critical challenge of protecting individual rights in the face of powerful traditional customs, leaving activists and victims alike in a precarious position.
