The Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) successfully conducted the Diplomatic Training Course for the African Region, under the ambit of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), from 7 to 18 September 2026. The 12-day programme gathered 14 diplomats representing 14 African nations, namely Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Seychelles, Somalia, and Tanzania, alongside two officers from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Department.
Designed to equip diplomats from the African region with essential capabilities, the course integrated fundamental diplomatic theory with practical applications. Senior Wisma Putra officials delivered in-depth briefings on Malaysia’s foreign policy framework, bilateral and multilateral ties, ASEAN dynamics, and public diplomacy strategies. The role of economic diplomacy was also highlighted, with a dedicated session on Malaysia’s palm oil sector and its sustainability agenda. Complementing these topics, expert-led sessions addressed core professional competencies, including international negotiation, strategic management, diplomatic protocol and etiquette, and cross-cultural communication.
Besides classroom training sessions, participants also undertook study visits to key administrative centres and cultural landmarks in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur such as Putrajaya Square, Batu Caves, the Petronas Twin Towers, Central Market, the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC), and the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex.
The experiential learning continued with a field visit to the historical city of Melaka, led by Dato Westmoreland Palon, Director of the Centre for Political Studies and Economic Diplomacy at IDFR. Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Melaka, participants received comprehensive briefings from the Melaka State Tourism Division, Tourism Malaysia, Melaka World Heritage, and Institut Tun Perak. These sessions highlighted Melaka’s legacy of historical diplomacy, which established the region as an international trade hub where 84 spoken languages intersected, with Malay functioning as the lingua franca.
Participants immersed themselves in these historical trails by riding trishaws through Jonker Walk, cruising along the Melaka River, and visiting key sites such as the Museum of History and Ethnography, Bukit Melaka, the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum, A Famosa (Porta de Santiago), and the Stadhuys. The excursion concluded on a high note at Encore Melaka with an immersive 360-degree rotating theatre performance showcasing the timeless stories of Melaka.
As a wrap for the course, participants presented their Country Report assignments, seamlessly incorporating key takeaways from both the coursework and field experiences. Their successful presentations culminated in the awarding of certificates of completion, marking the formal conclusion of a highly meaningful twelve-day diplomatic programme.
Prepared by:
Ms. Hanun Insyirah Ishak
Centre for Political Studies and Economic Diplomacy (PSED)
