Press Release
Ouagadougou, August 22, 2025
Target Malaria is a research consortium led by Imperial College London, which receives core funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to apparently eradicate malaria in Africa. The first phase of its project in Burkina Faso has been a dismal failure, involving the release of GM mosquitoes. We have witnessed strained human capacity on the part of regulatory authorities; a lack of experience, transparency, and compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity and Cartagena Protocol; and, most disturbing, alleged human rights violations. Free, Prior, Informed Consent interventions by the project included the use of intimidation and fear, driving conflict and dividing communities based on false promises. The limited public participation, dubious tactics, and silencing of communities illustrate its failure to ensure genuine Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
The press release below from the Coalition for Monitoring Biotechnology Activities (CVAB) welcomes an end to the Target Malaria project in Burkina Faso.
The Coalition for Monitoring Biotechnology Activities (CVAB) welcomes with great relief and deep satisfaction the decision of the government of Burkina Faso to end Target Malaria project activities throughout the national territory.
This wise, responsible, and historic decision marks an important step in preserving the scientific and health sovereignty of our country, Burkina Faso. It also demonstrates the authorities’ willingness to opt for solutions that respect public health, the environment, and citizens’ choices.
The CVAB reaffirms that malaria is a national tragedy, causing grief to thousands of families each year. It hopes that the Burkinabe government will intensify the development and implementation of safe, inclusive, and proven public policies for the eradication of this disease. Several countries have succeeded in being certified malaria-free thanks to reliable and proven methods. Burkina Faso can also meet this challenge with strategies adapted to its realities.
The CVAB expresses its deep gratitude to all those who, directly or indirectly, contributed to ensuring that the voice of civil society was heard in this process.
For the Coalition for Monitoring Biotechnology Activities (CVAB)
Signed:
- FIAN Burkina Faso
- Coalition of NGOs and Association for Peasant Seeds (COASP) Burkina Faso
- Coalition for Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN) Burkina Faso
- National Council for Organic Agriculture (CNABio)
- African Technology Assessment Platform (Afritap)
END
Further reading and watching from the ACB archive on this issue:
2023
Conversation with Mariam Mayet about the finacialisation of gene drive projects
2022
The financialisation of malaria in Africa: Burkina Faso, rogue capital & GM /gene drive mosquitoes (Briefing paper in EN and FR)
The paper is accompanied by three fact sheets:
What you need to know about Malaria
What drives malaria?
False solutions to the malaria challenge in Africa
Related papers
Profiteering from health and ecological crisis in Africa: the Target Malaria project and new risky GE technologies
Gene drive organisms: what Africa should know about actors, motives and threats to biodiversity and food systems
2020
Profiteering from health and ecological crisis in Africa: The Target Malaria project and new risky GE technologies (Briefing paper in EN and FR)
2019
Civil Society Denounces the Release of GM mosquitoes in Burkina Faso
This letter, signed by many organisations, was accompanied by a press release, press conference, briefing paper and a video produced by the ACB IN EN and FR, where network partners explain why they are opposed to any form of rollout of GM and gene drive mosquitoes
EN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHe1qkKGsmE
FR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK1teVUqMYY
2018
No benefit to imminent release of risky GM mosquitoes in Burkina Faso (Press release and briefing paper in EN and FR)
