Ouagadougou: The government of Burkina Faso has committed to establishing the International Synergy Safety, Defense and Security Exhibition (SYSDEF) as a key platform for designing innovative solutions aimed at promoting peace and prosperity. This announcement was made during the opening of the 2nd edition of SYSDEF.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Minister of State for Territorial Administration, ‚¬Å¡¬°mile Zerbo, representing the President of Faso, emphasized the government’s dedication to transforming SYSDEF into a benchmark platform in Africa for the development of innovative solutions in the defense sector. The minister made this commitment at the event held on May 8, 2025, in Ouagadougou.
Minister Zerbo highlighted the exhibition’s capacity to bring together specialized companies, innovators, researchers, partners, and decision-makers. On behalf of the Head of State, he pledged to make SYSDEF a hub for generating concrete projects and appropriate solutions in defense and military engineering for the benefit of the people.
The exhibition reflects Burkina Faso’s intention, along with its partners, to create defense strategies based on indigenous resources and supported by strategic cooperation. Minister Zerbo described the event as a forum for tackling defense and security challenges through an integrated approach that considers the local context.
Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Defense, expressed the aspiration for SYSDEF to become an institutionalized event and a reference point for security and military innovation in Africa. He assured that all solutions and proposals presented at the exhibition would be evaluated for potential integration into national processes.
The exhibition, themed ‘Defense, security and civil protection: challenges and innovative approaches for peaceful and prosperous territories,’ provides an opportunity to enhance Burkina Faso’s defense capabilities and showcase the country’s ingenuity and strategic autonomy.
Promoter Hyacinthe Zour© revealed that the program includes various activities such as military equipment exhibitions, weapon prototype demonstrations, and expert exchanges. The key issues to be addressed include cybersecurity, cyberdefense, artificial intelligence, and cooperation.
The event features participation from around ten countries, including Mali, Niger, Nigeria, China, South Africa, India, and Ghana. Turkey, the guest of honor, is showcasing an array of weapons and military equipment. Local innovators are also present, demonstrating their expertise in engineering, defense, and security.