Sudan bans female genital mutilation

Youssria Awad, with her daughters, at home in Khartoum, Sudan. She is one of the many women against FGM. Photo: AP/Marwan Ali

Sudan's highest governing body has passed a law criminalising female genital mutilation, a widespread ritual in the African country.

The sovereign council, comprising military and civilian figures, has approved a series of laws including criminalisation of the age-old practice known as FGM or genital cutting that "undermines the dignity of women", the ministry said in a statement.

The reform comes a year after longtime president Omar al-Bashir was toppled following months of mass pro-reform protests on the streets where women played a key role.