Kingdom
Military Cooperation: Official Launch of the “African Lion” Exercise
Scheduled to run until May 23rd, the “African Lion” Exercise brings together several partner nations for joint operations and training activities across various regions of the Kingdom.
In accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the FAR and the U.S. Armed Forces are co-organizing the 21st edition of the “African Lion” Exercise.
At the headquarters of the Southern Zone General Staff in Agadir, an opening ceremony was held on Monday to announce the official launch of this multinational, joint military exercise, attended by representatives from participating countries.
During the ceremony, co-chaired by Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, and Brigadier General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commander-General (Reserve) of the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force-Africa (SETAF-Africa), the scenario for the Command Post Simulation Exercise and related activities of this 21st edition were presented.
Speaking on the occasion, Major General Mohammed Benlouali emphasized that the 21st edition of the “African Lion” Exercise reflects the strength of the partnership and spirit of cooperation binding the FAR, the U.S. Armed Forces, and participating brotherly and friendly nations.
He added that this strengthened partnership has enabled the development of skills across the diverse activities scheduled throughout the exercise’s editions.
For his part, Brigadier General Daniel Cederman stated that the “African Lion” Exercise is “a truly remarkable event that underscores the significant value of this training and the growing strength of our partnerships.”
“Morocco’s commitment to African Lion demonstrates the power of our alliance,” he affirmed, noting that “each of us is dedicated to promoting peace, prosperity, and security in the region and worldwide.”
The activities planned for this exercise include training in several operational areas, planning exercises for participating officers, as well as NRBC (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, and Chemical) decontamination drills, in addition to joint maneuvers.
The 21st edition of the African Lion Exercise will also feature parallel humanitarian and social initiatives.
Scheduled to take place in the regions of Agadir, Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Kénitra, Benguérir, and Tifnit, the “African Lion 2025” Exercise aims to strengthen military cooperation between Morocco and the United States, enhance interoperability, and bolster intervention capabilities in a multinational context, thereby contributing to the promotion of security, peace, and stability in the region.
