Gambian MPs advance bill lifting ban on female genital mutilation

"The bill seeks to uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values," Almameh Gibba, the lawmaker who introduced the bill, said during the debate.

Gambian lawmakers voted on Monday to advance to the next parliamentary stage a highly controversial bill that seeks to lift a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), which has been in place since 2015.