This intensive five-day program equips diplomatic mission staff with the analytical tools, historical context, and operational knowledge to promote mutually beneficial relations and serve their nations’ interests effectively across the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes Region. Spanning across Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the DRC, the region is shaped by deep civilizational histories, colonial legacies, post-independence state-building struggles, and fierce competition over resources, trade corridors, and geopolitical influence.

Participants will develop a nuanced understanding of inter-state dynamics, the security environment, economic opportunities, diaspora politics, and the interests of external powers.  The course balances strategic theory with practical tradecraft, including stakeholder mapping, crisis communication, and the protection of commercial and citizen interests in volatile environments.