Burkina faso: Burkina Faso has ended the activities of the Target Malaria project, which cultivated genetically modified mosquitoes to combat malaria. The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) announced on Friday the definitive end of the Target Malaria project throughout Burkina Faso, in accordance with two administrative decisions taken on August 18 and 22, 2025.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the enclosures containing the genetically modified mosquitoes have been sealed since August 18 and all samples will be destroyed according to an established protocol. The MESRI also specifies that the genetically modified male mosquitoes, without genetic drive, which had been released in the village of Souroukoudingan (Houet province, Hauts-Bassins region), were carefully taken care of by the competent technical services.

With this decision, the government intends to definitively close the activities linked to the Target Malaria project, which has been carried out for several years in collaboration with research institutions and which has sparked debate within the national public.