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Rabat – Morocco’s Marrakech is hosting the 16th annual “Africa Endeavor” event, a symposium that seeks to strengthen measures to tackle security threats, including cybersecurity.
The event, which has been taking place from August 1-5, came at the instruction of King Mohammed VI within the framework of the Global Plan of Moroccan-American Military cooperation.
In partnership with US Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the event convened high-level military and security officials from the US, Morocco, as well as representatives from 21 countries in Africa and the African Union.
A statement from the general staff of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) said on Friday that military experts from the US, Africa, including Morocco, discussed different topics related to cybersecurity, as well as the need to upgrade and enhance telecommunication capacities and information systems.
The experts also discussed means to improve FAR interoperability with their US and African partners during multinational operations.
The event, in partnership with US AFRICOM, came amid continued attempts from lobbyists who are seeking to undermine Morocco’s hosting rights of the annual African Lion military training.
US Republican Senator James Inhofe reiterated his pro-Polisario stance recently by challenging Morocco’s right to host the African Lion military maneuver.
Inhofe, who is also the top Republican senator on the Senate Armed Services Committee, again lobbied against Morocco in July.
Speaking at a confirmation hearing for the nominees to lead Africa Command and Special Operations (AFRICOM), Inhofe brought up the Western Sahara dispute and urged the US to find an alternative country to host the African Lion exercises.
In response, US General Stephen J. Townsend said it will be difficult to find an African country able to do what “Morocco has been able to do over 18 years” as the host of the US-sponsored African Lion military exercise.
Townsend said that it is true that the US is looking for an alternative to Morocco, but he ruled out allegations that the decision indicates a change of heart from the US toward its position over Western Sahara.
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Instead, Townsend emphasized that the defense law for the fiscal year 2022 suggested looking at diversifying the exercise and “maybe moving the exercise or elements of the exercise to other areas of the continent.”
The AFRICOM commander stressed that the search for alternatives for hosting the largest military exercises in Africa is only meant to respect the latest US civilian administration.
Commenting on Morocco’s military, the AFRICOM official said: “They have a tremendous capacity” to host the exercise.
“They also have the infrastructure, the training ranges, all of that. They are fantastic hosts,” he said.
