Burkina Faso strengthens diplomatic foresight with CNES training

Ouagadougou — The National Centre for Strategic Studies (CNES) has initiated a three-day intensive workshop in the capital, targeting diplomats and foreign affairs experts from Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Held at the Permanent Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) headquarters in Ouaga 2000, the session focuses on strategic intelligence and geopolitical foresight.

The training, which runs from June 8 to 10, 2026, aims to equip around 30 participants—including ambassadors, technical advisors, and policy analysts—with advanced analytical tools. In an era marked by shifting global power dynamics and escalating security threats, organisers emphasise proactive crisis anticipation as a cornerstone of effective governance.

Led by Brigadier General Barthélémy Aimé Simporé, CNES Director-General, the programme blends theoretical instruction with hands-on exercises, including the drafting of operational briefs. General Simporé underscored the urgency of adapting to a rapidly evolving international landscape, stating: « Power rivalries are realigning, security challenges are growing more intricate, and strategic unpredictability has become the new norm in global affairs. »*

He further stressed that Burkina Faso’s diplomatic corps must transition from reactive crisis management to predictive capacity-building. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Cabinet Director Dieudonné Désiré Sougouri, echoed this sentiment. Sougouri highlighted the need for continuous upskilling, noting that traditional diplomatic frameworks are increasingly obsolete in a fluid geopolitical climate.

« Classical diplomatic fundamentals no longer suffice. Our experts must constantly refine their analytical skills to decode international shifts, » Sougouri remarked. The workshop’s agenda covers strategic monitoring, geopolitical risk assessment, and scenario-based policy simulations.

This inaugural session marks a milestone in Burkina Faso’s diplomatic modernisation efforts, aligning foreign policy actions with national security priorities. Organisers confirmed plans for future iterations to sustain long-term institutional capacity strengthening.