Doha – The 21st edition of the multinational African Lion military exercise officially kicked off Monday at the Southern Zone headquarters in Agadir.
Co-organized by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and the United States Armed Forces, this year’s exercise will run until May 23 across several regions of Morocco.
The opening ceremony was co-chaired by Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, and Brigadier General Brian Cedeman, Deputy Commander of SETAF-AFRICA.
Representatives from participating countries attended the event, where officials presented the command post simulation scenario and related activities planned for this edition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Major General Benlouali stressed that the 21st edition of “African Lion” reflects the solid partnership and cooperative spirit linking the FAR, US Armed Forces, and participating allied countries.
“This reinforced partnership has allowed us to develop skills across various programmed activities throughout the editions of this exercise,” he added.
Brigadier General Cedeman described the African Lion exercise as “a truly remarkable event that demonstrates the significant value of this training and the growing strength of our partnerships.”
He affirmed that “Morocco’s commitment to African Lion testifies to the strength of our alliance,” noting that “each of us is committed to promoting peace, prosperity, and security in the region and throughout the world.”
The exercise will take place in the regions of Agadir, Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir, and Tifnit, featuring operational training spanning land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains.
Activities will include operational training in multiple domains, planning exercises for participating personnel, and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) decontamination training, alongside joint military maneuvers.
Core components of the exercise include field training exercises, airborne and amphibious operations, special operations forces training, and HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) rapid insertion.
This year’s edition will also feature parallel humanitarian and social activities, which organizers assert reinforce the exercise’s comprehensive approach.
African Lion 2025 aims to strengthen military cooperation between Morocco and the United States, develop interoperability, and enhance intervention capabilities in a multinational context, ultimately contributing to regional security, peace, and stability.
The exercise is conducted in accordance with the instructions of King Mohammed VI, who serves as the Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.
African Lion has evolved since its inception in 2004 to become the US military’s largest exercise on the African continent.
US Africa Command’s flagship annual exercise for this year, African Lion 25, officially kicked off on April 14 in Tunisia, with additional operations taking place in Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco throughout May.
Gathering over 10,000 troops from more than 40 countries — including seven NATO allies — this year’s edition became the largest and most ambitious in the exercise’s history.
This year, participating countries in Morocco include Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, France, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Observer countries span throughout Africa and beyond, including Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, India, Qatar, and the Republic of Congo, reflecting the broader interest in regional cooperation and collective security.
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