The 20th annual joint military exercise “African Lion”, involving the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) of Morocco and the U.S. Armed Forces, concluded on Friday at Cap Draa (north of Tan-Tan). The exercise included aerial and ground military maneuvers.
The military maneuvers were conducted by Royal Air Force F-16 aircraft, in the presence of FAR Inspector General and Commander of the Southern Zone, Major General Mohammed Berrid, and Gen. Michael Langley, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and General in the U.S. Marine Corps.
The joint ground operations included the use of HIMARS missile launchers and a Puma helicopter for evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield, operated by the artillery.
Gen. Langley told the media that the African Lion exercise fosters regional cooperation and partnership, especially as this year’s exercise marked the 20th anniversary of the joint military exercise between Moroccan and international partners.
In a statement to MAP, FAR Senior Colonel Fouad Gourani highlighted the significance of “African Lion” in the longstanding joint military cooperation between the FAR and the U.S. Army, reflecting the strong relations between Morocco and the USA.
He noted that African Lion is the largest military exercise in Africa, involving over 20 countries working to enhance their readiness to address security challenges regionally and internationally.
Lieutenant Colonel Imad Idrissi, in charge of logistical support for “African Lion” operations, noted the importance of operational planning and logistical coordination for the smooth running of multinational maneuvers.
He pointed out that the exercise provides an opportunity to test and apply modern approaches and technologies related to interoperability, enhancing the responsiveness of logistics units in joint operations.
American Sergeant David Rodriguez expressed his pleasure in participating in the exercise with his Moroccan counterparts, noting that the experience allowed him to discover the Kingdom.
U.S. forces Colonel Mike Weinsman highlighted the growth of “African Lion,” from a small-scale exercise between Morocco and the US to the largest maneuver in Africa.
African Lion 2024 commenced on May 20 at the Southern Zone Command in Agadir and took place in several regions of the Kingdom. Approximately 7,000 troops from about 20 countries took part in this year’s edition, including the FAR, the U.S. forces, and military observers from Angola, Gabon, Zambia, Senegal, Cameroon, the United Arab Emirates, and France.
The exercise included joint tactical exercises on land, sea, and air, day and night, special forces exercises, airborne operations, and a Task Force operational planning exercise.
It also encompassed academic training and exercises on combating weapons of mass destruction, as well as a range of medical, surgical, and social services provided by a field hospital for the residents of the Akka region.