The National Centre for Strategic Studies (CNES) has initiated a three-day intensive workshop in Ouagadougou, bringing together diplomats and foreign affairs experts from across Burkina Faso. Held at the Permanent Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism (SP-MAEP) in Ouaga 2000, this session focuses on strategic intelligence and geopolitical forecasting.
Thirty diplomats, ambassadors, and technical advisors are participating in the program, designed to equip them with advanced analytical tools to navigate an increasingly volatile global landscape. The training blends theoretical instruction with hands-on exercises, including the preparation of operational briefing notes.
According to Brigadier General Barthélémy Aimé Simporé, Director-General of CNES, the initiative addresses a critical need for modern governance. He highlighted the shifting power dynamics and the growing complexity of security threats as key challenges facing Burkina Faso’s diplomatic corps. « Power rivalries are reshaping, security crises are intensifying, and strategic uncertainties have become a permanent feature of the international arena,» he noted.
The program goes beyond crisis response, aiming to build Burkina Faso’s long-term predictive capacity. Dieudonné Désiré Sougouri, Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the necessity of adapting analytical methods to current realities. « Traditional approaches are increasingly obsolete; our experts must continuously upgrade their skills to interpret the evolving geopolitical environment,» he stated.
Participants will explore strategic monitoring, geopolitical analysis, and risk assessment throughout the three-day session. The training also includes collaborative exercises to enhance real-time decision-making for policymakers. Organizers have announced plans for additional sessions to sustain this capacity-building effort.
The initiative marks a milestone in Burkina Faso’s diplomatic modernization, aligning with national strategic priorities. By fostering collaboration between foreign affairs experts and defense and higher education professionals, the program aims to deliver actionable insights for government authorities.
