The official opening ceremony for the 14th class of the Initial Training for Firefighter Officers (FIO) was held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Ouagadougou, at the Higher Institute for Civil Protection Studies (ISEPC). This solemn event marks the launch of a new training session dedicated to strengthening the operational and leadership capacities of future civil protection officers, in a spirit of excellence and African cooperation.

This new class comprises thirty-one (31) trainee officers, including five (5) women, from fifteen (15) African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Mauritius, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Chad, Togo, and Burkina Faso, thus confirming the regional focus of the ISEPC.

This diversity represents a valuable human and professional asset, fostering the sharing of experiences and strengthening solidarity among nations in a context marked by increasing security, climate, and humanitarian risks. At the start of his address, the Director General of ISEPC, Lieutenant-Colonel Zouno Gérard BAMBARA, expressed his pride in welcoming this 14th graduating class, recalling the Institute’s primary mission: to train highly qualified professionals capable of effectively meeting the complex challenges of modern civil protection. He also emphasized the demanding nature of the training, based on a balance between theoretical instruction, operational practice, leadership, and command.

For this session, the National Fire Brigade is utilizing experienced personnel, including Captain OULÉ Pascal Benoît and Lieutenant TAPSOBA Théophile, respectively Course Director and Deputy Course Director, supported by a team of qualified non-commissioned officers. This rigorous supervision aims to guarantee high-level training, in accordance with the professional and operational standards of civil protection.

Speaking in turn, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ISEPC, Colonel Daba Naon, commended the professionalism and commitment of the General Management and all the Institute’s staff. He urged the trainees to fully embrace this vocation, founded on discipline, a sense of duty, and sacrifice, while preserving the legacy of excellence that makes ISEPC a leading center for civil protection training.

Through this new graduating class, ISEPC reaffirms its commitment to training an operational elite capable of protecting people, property, and the environment, while contributing to strengthening African cooperation in civil protection.

ISEPC: Training to Save Lives