Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau, a West African nation and one of the world's poorest countries, is currently newsworthy due to a combination of political instability and a controversial, now-halted, US-funded vaccine trial. The country has a history of coups, with a recent military takeover leading to the destruction of election results from the November 2025 presidential election and the setting of a new election date for December 6th. Simultaneously, a US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial on newborns, led by Danish researchers, sparked outrage and ethical concerns, leading to its suspension by Bissau-Guinean authorities and eventual cancellation. The trial, funded by the US CDC, became a flashpoint due to changes in US vaccine policy and criticism from organizations like the WHO. This situation highlights Guinea-Bissau's vulnerability and the ethical considerations surrounding international research in developing nations.