Burkina Faso Suspends Bill Gates’ GM Mosquito Project Amid Safety and Ethical Concerns

Posted on by Stephen Ibrahim

Burkina Faso has suspended the Target Malaria project, halting the release of genetically modified mosquitoes. Here’s why the decision was made, how the technology works, and what it means for Africa’s malaria fight.

Burkina Faso Suspends GM Mosquito Project

Burkina Faso has suspended all activities of the Target Malaria project, a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation–backed initiative that was testing genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes to curb malaria transmission.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation issued the suspension order on August 18, 2025, halting trials and sealing off facilities where GM mosquitoes were being bred. Remaining insects are set to be destroyed under biosafety protocols.

This move is seen as a major setback for biotechnology’s role in malaria control, especially as Africa continues to account for more than 95% of global malaria deaths each year.

What Is the GM Mosquito Project?

The GM mosquito project is a scientific effort to fight malaria by altering mosquito populations. There are two main strategies:

  1. Sterile or self-limiting males (non–gene drive): Male mosquitoes are engineered with a genetic trait that prevents female offspring from surviving. Over time, this reduces the mosquito population.
  2. Gene drive mosquitoes (still in development): Using CRISPR gene editing, scientists insert traits that spread quickly through wild populations. These traits could make mosquitoes resistant to malaria parasites or cause female infertility, breaking the cycle of transmission.

African Countries Testing GM Mosquitoes

While Burkina Faso was a pioneer, it is not the only African country exploring genetically engineered mosquitoes:

  1. Burkina Faso: First release in 2019 of sterile Anopheles gambiae males under Target Malaria.
  2. Djibouti (2024–2025): Pilot release of Oxitec’s “Friendly™” Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes to combat urban malaria outbreaks.
  3. Ghana and Uganda: Ongoing lab research under Target Malaria, but no field releases yet.
  4. Tanzania: Transmission Zero project preparing future gene drive trials.
ALSO READ  Key Steps to Maintaining a Healthy Relationship

Why Did Burkina Faso Suspend the Project?

Despite initial regulatory approvals, Burkina Faso pulled the brakes for several reasons:

  • Public Opposition: Civil society groups argued there was a lack of transparency and genuine community consent.
  • Scientific Concerns: Independent studies raised issues about genetic stability, hybridization with wild species, and potential unintended ecological impacts.
  • Ethical Questions: Critics said the project offered no immediate health benefits to communities and risked using them as experimental grounds.

The suspension underscores the need for caution, independent review, and stronger community engagement before advancing such high-risk biotechnology in Africa.

What This Means for Malaria Control in Africa

Burkina Faso’s decision puts Africa at a crossroads. While countries like Djibouti continue to test GM mosquitoes, the suspension raises questions about safety, ethics, and public trust.

As malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, the challenge is finding the right balance between innovation and precaution. Whether genetically modified mosquitoes become part of the continent’s malaria toolkit will depend on how governments, scientists, and communities navigate these concerns in the years ahead.

Scroll to Top