The gene frequencies in 1993–1994 for haemoglobin S, haemoglobin C, alpha− 37 deletional thalassaemia, G6PDA−, HLA B∗ 5301 were estimated in Fulani, Mossi and Rimaibé ethnic groups of Burkina Faso, West Africa. The aim of the study was to verify whether the previously reported Fulani lower susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum malaria was associated with any of these malaria-resistance genes. Similar frequencies for haemoglobin S were recorded in the 3 ethnic groups (0· 024±0· 008, 0· 030±0· 011, 0· 022±0· 013; in Mossi, Rimaibé and Fulani, respectively). The Mossi and Rimaibé showed higher frequencies when compared to Fulani for haemoglobin C (0· 117±0· 018, 0· 127±0· 020, 0· 059±0· 020), alpha− 37 deletional thalassaemia (0· 227±0· 040, 0· 134±0· 032, 0· 103±0· 028), G6PDA−(0· 196±0· 025, 0· 187±0· 044, 0· 069±0· 025) and HLA B∗ 5301 (0 …