Rabat – The Royal Armed Forces of Morocco (FAR) and the U.S. Armed Forces are co-hosting the 20th edition of “African Lion” from May 20 until May 31.
On Monday, delegates from participating nations attended an opening ceremony at the South Zone Headquarters in Agadir to officially announce the launch of the multinational joint African Lion exercise.
Major General Mohammed Benlouali, South Zone’s Chief of Staff, and Major General Todd R.Wasmund co-chaired the event, which presented the scenario for the 20th African Lion edition and its related activities.
Around 7,000 armed forces from 20 countries and representatives from NATO are taking part in these large-scale military maneuvers alongside the FAR and the U.S. Armed Forces.
Major General Mohammed Benlouali emphasized in a press release to the MAP that the “African Lion 2024” exercise marks 20 years of fruitful cooperation, distinguished partnership, and steadfast dedication to the values of peace and security. He added that it showcases a “spirit of mutual trust between Morocco and the United States of America.”
Major General Todd R. Wasmund, commanding general of the U.S. Army-Africa Southern Task Force, affirmed to the same source that “Morocco will always remain African Lion’s cradle”. He also thanked the FAR for their unwavering commitment and dedication to this productive 20-year partnership.
Taking place in Benguerir, Agadir, Tan-Tan, Akka, and Tifnit, the African Lion 2024 exercise comprises of several activities.
These include tactical land, maritime, and aerial exercises, as well as special forces exercises. There are also scheduled day-night airborne operations and operational planning exercises for Task Force officers.
This 20th edition includes training in the fight against weapons of mass destruction and a wide range of medical, surgical, and social services provided for the population of the Akka region by a military field hospital.
As a major contributor to the reinforcement of operational, technical, and procedural interoperability between the participating armies, the African Lion 2024 exercise remains an essential occasion for military executives to exchange their experiences. Particularly, in terms of combining joint training and knowledge.
This year’s edition of the exercise symbolizes the enduring cooperation between the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco (FAR) and the U.S. Armed Forces, reflecting the solid historical ties between the two countries.
Another meeting was held on Monday where Moroccan officers received Celeste Wallander; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, accompanied by. Puneet Talwar; U.S. Ambassador to Morocco.
The two parties underlined the strength and durability of the strong ties and strategic partnership between the United States of America and Morocco. They also expressed their desire to further develop these relations in the same spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, and shared trust.
They also reported their satisfaction with the results of the bilateral ongoing military cooperation. The results have led to great development in several areas, the most notable of which is the organizing of the African Lion joint military drill.
