Transcontinental dispersal of Anopheles gambiae occurred from West African origin via serial founder events

We present population genomic analyses of 111 specimens sampled from west to east Africa, including the first whole genome sequences from oceanic islands, the Comoros. Geological barriers like the Congo River basin and the East African rift seem to play an important role in shaping this process. Moreover, we find a high degree of genetic isolation of populations on the Comoros, confirming the potential of these islands as candidate sites for field trials of genetically engineered mosquitoes for malaria control.