Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — The National Centre for Strategic Studies (CNES) has launched a three-day intensive strategic intelligence and geopolitical foresight training for senior officials and experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session, held at the Permanent Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism in Ouaga 2000, brings together diplomats, ambassadors, and technical advisors to sharpen their crisis anticipation skills.
In today’s fast-shifting global landscape, the programme aims to equip participants with cutting-edge analytical tools to identify emerging risks and inform smarter policy decisions. Over the course of the workshop—running from June 8 to 10, 2026—attendees will delve into strategic monitoring, geopolitical risk assessment, and the crafting of actionable policy briefs.
The training blends theoretical instruction with hands-on simulations, including real-time scenario analysis and the drafting of operational synthesis notes. Brigadier General Barthélémy Aimé Simporé, the CNES Director-General, underscored the urgency of this initiative: “Global power rivalries are being reshaped, security crises are growing more intricate, and strategic uncertainties have become a constant in the international arena.”
He stressed that the programme goes beyond crisis response—it is about building predictive capabilities for Burkina Faso’s long-term stability. Dieudonné Désiré Sougouri, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Chief of Staff, echoed this sentiment, noting that the ministry’s Strategic Analysis Office must continuously evolve to meet modern challenges. “Traditional frameworks are increasingly obsolete. Our experts must stay ahead of the curve, mastering the nuances of today’s global geopolitical landscape.”
The workshop represents a milestone in Burkina Faso’s diplomatic modernization efforts, aligning foreign policy actions with national priorities. Organizers highlight plans for additional sessions to sustain this capacity-building momentum, ensuring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains a proactive force in global affairs.
