Burkina Faso has put a stop to a Gates Foundation-funded project that aimed to eliminate malaria and other diseases spread by mosquitoes by releasing genetically modified mosquitoes.
In a statement released on Friday, the government declared that Target Malaria, the organization behind the initiative, must halt “all activities” immediately.
This decision is the latest move by the military-led government of Captain Ibrahim Traore, who has been in power since taking control in a coup in September 2022. Earlier in June and July, authorities had already revoked the licenses of 21 NGOs or groups that were receiving foreign funding.
Target Malaria, a group made up of over 150 researchers from Africa and the West, has been conducting experimental releases of genetically modified mosquitoes since 2019, with another release happening earlier this month. The organization claims that this method could significantly reduce the more than 500,000 malaria deaths reported each year in Africa.
However, critics argue that the risks are too significant. “This technology is very controversial and raises ethical concerns. We believe that safe alternatives should be prioritized,” stated Ali Tapsoba, a spokesperson for a coalition against the project.
In response, Target Malaria emphasized that it has “been operating in accordance with Burkina Faso’s national laws since 2012” and expressed its willingness to collaborate.
Burkina Faso, which has a population of 24 million, is one of the countries most severely affected by malaria. In 2023 alone, it reported over eight million cases and more than 16,000 deaths.
Nonetheless, for years, international media, health experts, and activists have voiced concerns that Africa is frequently seen as a testing ground for controversial medical and scientific experiments. From vaccine trials to genetically modified crops and now genetically engineered mosquitoes, the continent has consistently been the focus of projects that would likely encounter much stronger opposition in Western nations.
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