MONROVIA: The Ministry of Internal Affairs has warned against the re-activation of Sende society practice across the country following temporarily suspension for three years since February 4, 2022.
MIA in a release dated Friday, September 20, 2024 said the Ministry attention is drawn to media reports that Sende society practice has resume in rural part of the country, though the release was not specific of a particular area in the country where such activity is ongoing.
It can be recalled on February4, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs through a Memorandum of Understanding jointly signed by the Ministry of Gender, Chief Zoes, Women groups including Civil Society Organizations suspended all Sende society practice across the country for the period of three years.
According to the MIA release, the Memorandum of Understanding remains in full force until otherwise for the period up until 2025, when the government shall review and subsequently adopt appropriate actions in line with Article 5 (b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs hereby directs all those concerns to respect the February 4, 2022 MOU and refrain from any act (s) that undermines the spirit and intent of this instrument.
The Ministry further directs all Superintendents to take appropriate measures to ensure compliance, including investigations and report findings to the Ministry for penalty action against who being violators.
Sande, also known as zadεgi, bundu, bundo and bondo, is a women’s initiation society in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. The Sande society initiates girls into adulthood by rituals including female genital mutilation.
