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Burkina Faso’s military-led government under Captain Ibrahim Traoré has ordered an immediate halt to ‘Target Malaria’, a Bill Gates-funded initiative aimed at combating malaria through genetically modified mosquitoes. The government instructed the destruction of all samples and the suspension of all operations, citing national sovereignty and safety concerns.
The project, active since 2019, involved releasing male mosquitoes engineered to reduce the population of malaria-carrying females. Despite approvals from national biosafety and ethics agencies, and support from local communities, critics—including civil society groups and anti-GMO activists—argued the project posed ethical, ecological, and sovereignty risks. Some also accused the initiative of scientific neo-colonialism.
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The shutdown reflects a broader crackdown on foreign-backed NGOs in Burkina Faso, particularly those linked to Western governments or philanthropists. While Target Malaria insists it followed national regulations and engaged local stakeholders, the decision highlights growing resistance to external biotech interventions in Africa’s health sector.
