On Friday, Burkina Faso’s military government put an abrupt stop to a project funded by US billionaire Bill Gates and his foundation. The initiative, run by Target Malaria, aimed to release genetically modified mosquitoes in a bid to wipe out malaria.
Authorities have now ordered the NGO to immediately stop all activities in the country.
Target Malaria becomes the latest international NGO to face mounting pressure from Burkina Faso’s rulers. The program has drawn heavy criticism from civil society groups and has also been the focus of online disinformation campaigns.
A spokesperson representing persons opposing the project argued that safer and more reliable alternatives should be prioritized over such controversial technology.
