9 Lives, 1 Birth: The Halima Cissé Nonuplets’ Incredible Journey To Their 4th Birthday In 2025

As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the world's only known set of surviving nonuplets—nine children born from a single birth—continue to defy medical odds and thrive, preparing for a monumental milestone: their fourth birthday. This extraordinary family, hailing from the West African nation of Mali, captured global attention in 2021 with a birth so rare it shattered a Guinness World Record. The ongoing health and development of these five girls and four boys represent a true modern medical miracle, a story of international cooperation, and a testament to the resilience of their parents, Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby.

The journey of the Cissé-Arby nonuplets has been followed closely by millions, offering a fresh, current-day perspective on the complexities of extreme multiple births. From their premature arrival in a specialized clinic in Morocco to their eventual return home to Mali, their story is one of unprecedented survival and coordinated care that continues to be a source of wonder and inspiration across the globe.

The Cissé Nonuplets: A Complete Biography and Record-Breaking Birth

The birth of the nonuplets was a moment of intense global focus, not only for the sheer number of babies but because all nine survived, establishing a new world record. The parents, Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, a young couple from Timbuktu, Mali, were initially told they were expecting septuplets (seven babies), making the discovery of two additional infants during the delivery a profound surprise.

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Parents' Profile

• Mother: Halima Cissé (born March 21, 1996)
• Father: Abdelkader Arby
• Home Country: Mali (originally from Timbuktu)

Birth Details and World Record

• Date of Birth: May 4, 2021
• Location of Birth: Ain Borja clinic, Casablanca, Morocco
• Gestational Age: 30 weeks (approximately 10 weeks premature)
• Delivery Method: Cesarean Section (C-section)
• World Record: Most children delivered at a single birth to survive (certified by Guinness World Records)
• Previous Record Holder: Nadya Suleman (Octuplets, "Octomom") in 2009

The Nine Children (5 Girls, 4 Boys)

The names of the nonuplets, listed by gender, are:

The Five Girls

1. Hawa
2. Adama
3. Oumou
4. Kadidia
5. Fatouma

The Four Boys

1. Mohammed
2. Bah
3. Oumar
4. Elhadji

The Medical Miracle: 30 Weeks and Specialized Care

The survival of the nonuplets is a testament to extraordinary medical coordination and the advancements in neonatal care. The very fact that Halima Cissé carried the babies to 30 weeks—a critical milestone for multiple births—was a significant achievement. Pregnancies with such a high number of fetuses rarely progress past the 20-week mark, and the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and severe prematurity is exceptionally high.

Due to the extreme nature of the pregnancy, the Malian government intervened to ensure the best possible outcome. Halima was flown from Mali to Morocco, a country known for its advanced medical facilities, for specialized monitoring and delivery at the Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca.

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The Challenges of Extreme Prematurity

Born at 30 weeks, each baby was considered extremely premature and underweight, with weights ranging between 1.1 and 2.2 pounds (500g and 1kg). Immediate and intensive care was required for all nine infants. The team at the Ain Borja clinic, led by Professor Youssef Alaoui, performed the C-section delivery and provided the subsequent 19 months of round-the-clock specialized neonatal care.

The babies spent their first year and a half in Morocco, where they were closely monitored to ensure proper development, especially for common issues associated with prematurity, such as respiratory distress syndrome and feeding difficulties. The fact that all nine children not only survived but are now reported to be "in perfect health" is what truly secured their place in medical history and the Guinness World Records.

Life After Morocco: The Nonuplets at Home and Their 2025 Milestone

In December 2022, after 19 months of intensive care and monitoring in Morocco, the entire family—Halima, Abdelkader, and the nine children—safely returned home to Mali. The return marked a new chapter, transitioning from a highly controlled medical environment to the logistical challenges of raising nine toddlers simultaneously.

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The family’s life remains a subject of public fascination and support. The sheer scale of caring for nine children requires immense planning and resources, including:

• Diaper Consumption: In their early months, the babies required hundreds of diapers per week.
• Feeding Schedule: A coordinated effort is required to manage feeding, bathing, and nap times for all nine.
• Logistics: Moving nine children requires specialized transport and constant supervision.

As the children approach their fourth birthday in May 2025, they are entering a new developmental phase, characterized by increased mobility, individual personalities, and the transition toward early schooling. Their parents have shared that the children are thriving, with each one developing a distinct personality. The family is reportedly planning a "grandiose" celebration for their fourth birthday, marking a significant milestone in their incredible journey.

The Legacy of the Nonuplets

The Cissé nonuplets have become more than just a world record; they are a symbol of hope and a case study in the possibilities of modern medicine, particularly in the context of international aid and cooperation. Their story sheds light on the rare phenomenon of high-order multiple births, which are often the result of natural conception or, less commonly, assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In Halima Cissé's case, the pregnancy was confirmed to be naturally conceived, adding another layer of rarity to the miracle. The family's ongoing success ensures that the term "nonuplets" will forever be associated with their names: Hawa, Adama, Oumou, Kadidia, Fatouma, Mohammed, Bah, Oumar, and Elhadji.