Burkina Faso’s military-led government has abruptly halted the Target Malaria initiative, a genetically modified mosquito project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The decision, announced Friday by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, orders the immediate cessation of all project activities and the sealing of its facilities.

Target Malaria, a research consortium led by Imperial College London, had been operating in Burkina Faso since 2012. It aimed to reduce malaria transmission by releasing genetically modified mosquitoes engineered to produce predominantly male offspring, thereby shrinking mosquito populations over time.

The first release occurred in 2019, making Burkina Faso the first African country to trial the technology.

Despite regulatory approval from national biosafety and ethics agencies, the project faced mounting criticism from civil society groups over ethical concerns, ecological risks, and fears of socio-environmental disruption.

Ali Tapsoba, a spokesperson for a coalition opposing the initiative, called for “safe alternatives” and denounced the technology as “highly controversial”.

The suspension comes amid a broader crackdown on foreign-funded NGOs. In June and July, the Traoré administration revoked licenses for 21 international organizations, citing sovereignty concerns and foreign interference.

Disinformation campaigns targeting Target Malaria have also proliferated on social media platforms linked to the government, further complicating public perception.

Burkina Faso remains one of the world’s most malaria-affected nations, with over eight million cases and more than 16,000 deaths recorded in 2023. The halt raises questions about the future of experimental public health interventions in politically volatile environments.

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