Mali nonuplets: Nine babies ‘in perfect health’ celebrate their first birthday

As previously reported, the nonuplets were born prematurely via caesarean section at a Moroccan clinic on 4 May. They weighed between 500 grams and one kilogram at birth and were kept in incubators for months.

After the birth, Professor Youssef Alaoui, the medical director of the clinic, told AFP instances of multiple births, such as this, are “extremely rare, it’s exceptional.”

The Mali government flew the mother to Morocco so that she would receive better care.

The nine infants are the world’s only nonuplets.

According to a BBC report, Arby said the babies are still in the care of the Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca where they were born.

“They’re all crawling now. Some are sitting up and can even walk if they hold on to something.

“It’s not easy but it’s great. Even if it’s tiring at times, when you look at all the babies in perfect health, [in a line] from right to left we’re relieved. We forget everything,” said Arby, who is a Malian army officer.

The 26-year-old mother, Cisse, is also in good health. According to the BBC, the boys are called Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji, Bah and the girls are named Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou.