Military Shuts Down Bill Gates Genetically Modified Mosquito Project in West Africa

Multiple independent sources confirm that in August 2025, the military government of Burkina Faso ordered an immediate halt to the Target Malaria project, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and aimed at reducing malaria transmission through genetically modified mosquitoes. The decision includes the destruction of all genetically modified mosquito samples nationwide. The shutdown was motivated by safety, ethical concerns, and political changes following a military takeover.

This move effectively ends over a decade of research and experimentation in Burkina Faso, which had been a central site for gene-drive mosquito research. While the project had international scientific support and partnerships, the local government prioritized precautionary measures amid concerns about ecological and social impacts. There is no credible evidence disputing the shutdown; rather, all sources align on this recent development.