Burkina Faso: diplomatic experts undergo training in geopolitical anticipation

The National Center for Strategic Studies (CNES) inaugurated a three-day capacity-building workshop on Monday, June 8, 2026, in Ouagadougou. This session, designed for senior officials and specialists from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focuses on strategic intelligence and geopolitical foresight. The program is being held at the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism (SP-MAEP) in Ouaga 2000.

The primary objective of this gathering is to enhance the professional skills of approximately thirty participants, including ambassadors and technical advisors within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In an era of rapid global transformation, the organizers aim to provide these experts with modern tools to better forecast crises and steer political decision-making.

From Monday, June 8, to Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the experts will explore various topics such as strategic monitoring, geopolitical analysis, and risk evaluation. The training methodology merges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, particularly the creation of operational summary notes.

Brigadier General Barthélémy Aimé Simporé, the Director General of CNES, explained that this initiative is a direct response to modern governance requirements. He highlighted the current international landscape, noting that power rivalries are shifting, security crises are becoming more intricate, and strategic uncertainties have become a permanent fixture of the global environment. He emphasized that the goal is to move beyond simple crisis management toward a proactive national forecasting capability.

Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of Cabinet Dieudonné Désiré Sougouri praised the collaboration with CNES. He pointed out that the ministry’s Strategic Analysis Bureau must constantly refine its methods to align with current realities. He stressed the importance of this update for the civil service, observing that traditional diplomatic fundamentals are increasingly being challenged, requiring experts to continuously update their understanding of the international geopolitical climate.

This training session, a first for this specific department, is expected to lead to a more precise identification of emerging risks and the production of more direct analytical reports for government authorities. Organizers indicated that additional sessions of this nature will be scheduled in the future to ensure the continuity of this skill-building effort.

The workshop represents a significant advancement in modernizing national diplomatic efforts, in line with the directives of the authorities. The exchange of experience between defense experts and higher education professionals is expected to ensure the success of this strategic activity.