The 21st edition of the African Lion Exercise, co-hosted by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the U.S. Armed Forces, which are renewing their joint efforts to promote peace in the region and around the world, kicked off Monday in Agadir.
An opening ceremony, held at the South Zone Headquarters in Agadir, marked the official launch of this multinational joint exercise, which will run until May 23. The ceremony Co-chaired by Lt. General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the South Zone, and Brigadier General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commander of SETAF-AFRICA, was attended by representatives from the participating countries.
The exercise, which comes this year amid global security deterioration, aims to strengthen the defensive, planning, and operational capabilities of more than thirty armies from around the world.
The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the U.S. Army presented tactical details of the exercises, which include live-ammunition field maneuvers by a joint force supported by HIMARS rocket systems to destroy hostile targets and fortified extremist positions. Special forces training will cover advanced techniques and tactics, alongside practical drills on responding to nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks. The program also includes joint operation planning exercises, as well as aerial and naval maneuvers.
Lt General Mohammed Benlouali stated that most aspects of this edition aim to enhance participants’ capabilities and improve interoperability among forces. He emphasized the importance of coordination among various functions to boost collective performance, improve field readiness, and standardize operational protocols.
In his address, Lt. Gen. Benlouali highlighted that preparations for this edition notably included a comprehensive training session involving 381 trainees, covering vital and essential areas to ensure participants were equipped with the necessary knowledge and procedures for effective and efficient participation in the exercises.
According to the Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, these training sessions focused on “joint operations planning, logistical planning, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity.” The goal is to ensure participants understand the mechanisms for controlling the electromagnetic space, apply electronic attack and defense strategies, and mitigate hostile jamming capabilities. Participants were also sensitized to the importance of protecting digital infrastructure and addressing the risks of cyberattacks and their devastating impact on military operations. On the counterterrorism front, the training provided knowledge and skills for dealing with terrorist threats, emphasizing early detection through intelligence-sharing and the application of modern information-gathering and analysis methods, as well as enhancing rapid and flexible response capabilities.
“This exercise truly represents a significant moment, and affirms the strength of the partnership and the deep-rooted spirit of cooperation between the FAR, the U.S. Armed Forces, and their counterparts from allied and friendly nations. It has allowed for the consolidation of knowledge and the development of competencies across various fields and activities,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Benlouali concluded by praising the Moroccan-American partnership through the “African Lion” maneuvers, stating: “This mutual trust and shared will between our forces serve to refine and adapt these maneuvers to the demands of modern warfare.”
In his address, Brigadier General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commander of SETAF-AFRICA, pointed out that African Lion is “a truly remarkable event which attests to the significant value of this training and to the growing strength of our partnerships.” He emphasized Morocco’s key role in promoting peace and stability in the region and across the African continent.
He noted that “the Royal Armed Forces, through their excellent organization, have consistently elevated the quality of the exercises,” stressing that “the goal remains to build the defensive combat capabilities of the participating armies, which will benefit from field maneuvers in air, sea, and land domains.”
The activities planned within the framework of this Exercise include training in several operational areas, planning exercises for the benefit of participating personnel, and Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, and Chemical decontamination operations, in addition to joint maneuvers.
Besides military exercises, the 21st edition will also include parallel humanitarian and social actions.
Scheduled to take place in the regions of Agadir, Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir, and Tifnit, the drill aims to strengthen military cooperation between Morocco and the United States, develop interoperability, and enhance response capabilities in a multinational context, thereby contributing to the promotion of peace, security, and stability in the region.