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Burkina Faso’s military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has taken decisive action against a controversial initiative supported by US billionaire Bill Gates. The nation has ordered the immediate cessation of the “Target Malaria” program, which aimed to combat mosquito-borne diseases like malaria through the release of genetically engineered insects. This move signals a significant pushback against foreign-backed projects, underscoring national sovereignty and environmental concerns.
Government Suspends Target Malaria Operations
The directive from Ouagadougou mandates the immediate halt of all activities by Target Malaria, the primary non-governmental organization spearheading the initiative. Furthermore, Samuel Pare, a senior official at the higher education and research ministry, confirmed that all existing genetically modified mosquito samples within the country would be destroyed under strict protocols.
This decision is part of a broader crackdown by the current junta on foreign-backed NGOs operating in the West African nation, reflecting a deep-seated desire to assert national control over key development initiatives.
Understanding Target Malaria’s Mission and Presence
Launched in Burkina Faso in 2019, the Target Malaria program initially released genetically modified male mosquitoes in Bana, a village with approximately 1,000 residents in the country’s western region. The core concept behind these modified insects was to reduce the reproductive capacity of malaria-carrying female mosquitoes, with the ultimate goal of curbing the transmission of a disease that claims hundreds of thousands of lives across Africa annually.
The project, a consortium of scientists and engagement experts from Africa, Europe, and North America, had expanded its research to other sites and released new batches of altered mosquitoes just days before the government’s unexpected suspension order. Its work centered on exploring gene drive technology, a method to spread sterilizing traits through mosquito populations, particularly the Anopheles species known to transmit malaria.
Mounting Criticisms and Ethical Dilemmas
Despite its stated public health objectives, the Target Malaria initiative faced widespread criticism. Reports, including one from Bloomberg, suggested that the program’s researchers were being accused of exacerbating malaria spread. Activists, such as the French-Togolese figure Egountchi Behanzin, celebrated the project’s halt on social media, linking it to alleged funding from Bill Gates and the US Army.
The controversy intensified around ethical and ecological concerns. Critics, including Ali Tapsoba, spokesperson for a coalition opposing the project, argued that targeting an entire species for potential extinction, even one responsible for malaria, raised profound moral and environmental questions. “This technology is highly controversial and poses ethical challenges. We are saying that we should prioritize safe alternatives,” Tapsoba stated.
The Coalition for Monitoring Biotechnological Activities in Burkina Faso (CVAB) labeled the project as risky, opaque, and potentially harmful, raising fears about the unknown and potentially irreversible impacts of gene-drive organisms on health and ecosystems. Concerns about “scientific neo-colonialism” were also voiced, given the origins of the modified mosquito strains in European laboratories.
Regulatory Approvals vs. Public Resistance
Target Malaria maintained that its operations were fully compliant with national laws and international biosafety standards. The project had indeed secured approvals from key national bodies, including Burkina Faso’s National Biosafety Agency (ANB), the National Environmental Assessment Agency (ANEVE), and the Health Research Ethics Committee. Local communities in selected field sites had also reportedly consented to the releases.
In August 2025, Target Malaria announced that an initial small-scale release of non-gene drive genetically modified male bias mosquitoes had successfully taken place, adhering to the terms and conditions set by the ANB and ANEVE permits. However, these regulatory clearances did little to quell the growing public and civil society resistance.
A Broader Geopolitical Context and National Sovereignty
The suspension of Target Malaria must be viewed within the context of the military government’s broader political agenda. Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in 2022, his administration has actively sought to reduce foreign influence in domestic affairs, especially concerning projects linked to prominent Western philanthropists such as Bill Gates. Officials in Burkina Faso now advocate for “locally developed, safer alternatives” over experimental technologies perceived as externally imposed.
This decision resonates with the government’s populist narrative, which frequently frames Western-funded initiatives as challenges to national sovereignty. It reflects a desire to pivot away from what some perceive as external pressures and towards policies that prioritize local solutions and national self-determination.
Implications for Global Health Initiatives
With this announcement, all operations related to Target Malaria have been formally ceased in Burkina Faso. While the research consortium reiterates its commitment to cooperation and compliance with national and international standards, this development marks a significant setback for gene drive technology in the global fight against malaria.
Burkina Faso’s unequivocal stance underscores a growing debate across Africa regarding the adoption of radical biotechnological solutions and the assertion of national control over scientific and health initiatives. For now, the nation has made its stance clear: Bill Gates’ vision of genetically engineered mosquitoes will not be taking flight on its soil.