Burkina Faso strengthens diplomatic foresight with CNES training
Ouagadougou — The National Centre for Strategic Studies (CNES) has inaugurated a three-day training workshop for diplomats and foreign affairs specialists. The session, held at the Permanent Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism (SP-MAEP) in Ouaga 2000, focuses on strategic intelligence and geopolitical foresight.
Targeting around thirty experts, ambassadors, and technical advisors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this initiative aims to equip participants with advanced tools to anticipate global shifts and shape informed policy decisions.
Over three intensive days—from June 8 to 10, 2026—the participants will explore strategic monitoring, geopolitical analysis, and risk assessment. The program blends theoretical instruction with hands-on exercises, including drafting actionable policy briefs.
Brigadier General Barthélémy Aimé Simporé, CNES Director-General, highlighted the urgency of this training. «Power rivalries are reshaping, security crises are growing more intricate, and strategic uncertainties have become a constant in international relations,» he noted. «Our focus must shift from crisis response to proactive prediction to safeguard national interests.»
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Cabinet Director Dieudonné Désiré Sougouri, praised the collaboration with CNES. «Traditional diplomatic frameworks are increasingly outdated. We must continuously upskill our experts to decode the evolving geopolitical landscape,» he emphasized. «This training ensures our analysts can deliver sharp, forward-looking insights for policymakers.»
This inaugural session is expected to enhance early risk detection and streamline analysis for government authorities. Organizers confirmed plans to expand similar workshops, reinforcing Burkina Faso’s diplomatic preparedness.
