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Rabat – Morocco and the United States are set to conduct the “African Lion 2024” joint military drill from May 20-31 in a number of Moroccan cities, namely Benguerir, Agadir, Tan-Tan, Akka, and Tifnit.
This 20th edition of the joint military exercise is set to take place with an anticipated participation of approximately 7,000 military personnel from around twenty countries, in addition to representatives from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) said in a statement.
It promises to be one of the largest military maneuvers conducted on the African continent this year, added the statement.
In terms of scope, this year’s African Lion covers a wide array of activities ranging from tactical exercises to land, maritime, and aerial operations, conducted both day and night.
Special emphasis will be placed on enhancing interoperability between participating forces, with highlights including special forces drills, airborne operations, and operational planning exercises for the task force staff.
In addition, training in countering weapons of mass destruction will be a key component, along with the provision of medical and surgical services to the local population in the Akka region through a military field hospital.
Officials stress the importance of African Lion 2024 as a platform for exchanging best practices and experiences in joint training and combined arms operations.
This year’s edition of the exercise symbolizes the enduring cooperation between the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco and the United States Armed Forces, reflecting the historical ties and shared commitment to security and stability in the region.
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In 2023, the joint military drill also included Mehbes, a city in the Western Sahara region in southern Morocco. This move reflected the US position in support of Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.
African Lion, aimed at promoting regional peace and security, is the largest multinational exercise on the African continent.
The organization of a 20th edition of such a critical drill for US-Morocco security cooperation is “a sign of the strength and sustainability of the relationships between the Royal Armed Forces and their American counterparts,” the organizers said earlier this year.
