The government of Burkina Faso has ordered the immediate suspension of the Target Malaria project, a multi-million dollar initiative backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The project, which has been in operation since 2012, aimed to combat malaria—a disease that claimed over 16,000 lives in Burkina Faso in 2023—by releasing genetically modified mosquitoes. This move, announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, is a major setback for the proponents of gene drive technology and highlights the complex interplay of science, ethics, and politics in public health interventions.
The project's termination comes amidst a sustained and vocal campaign by a coalition of civil society organizations. Groups like the Coalition for Monitoring Biotechnological Activities in Burkina Faso (CVAB) have been raising serious ethical and environmental alarms about the controversial "gene drive" technology. The technology works by introducing a genetic modification into the mosquito population that would either reduce their ability to reproduce or their capacity to transmit the malaria parasite. Critics, however, have argued that this technology is "highly controversial, unpredictable, and poses ethical challenges," advocating instead for "safe alternatives" to combat the deadly disease.
A major point of contention has been the foreign origin of the technology. The genetically modified mosquito eggs were imported from laboratories in Europe, a fact that has fueled concerns about "scientific neo-colonialism." Critics have expressed worries that African nations are being used as testing grounds for experimental and potentially risky technologies without full transparency or consent. This sentiment has been gaining traction, and the government's decision is seen by many as a powerful stand against perceived foreign interference.
The country's current political climate is also a significant factor in the decision. The military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has been assertive in its efforts to reduce foreign influence. The government has already revoked the operating licenses of several international non-governmental organizations, and the suspension of the Target Malaria project aligns with this broader nationalistic stance.
In a statement, Target Malaria confirmed that it had been operating in compliance with Burkina Faso's national legislation and had received all necessary regulatory authorizations. However, the government's communiqué was clear: all facilities containing the genetically modified mosquitoes have been sealed, and all remaining samples will be destroyed.
