Moroccan and American armies finalized preparations for the African Lion exercises that are set to take place in June in Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, and Ghana.
High-ranking officials of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and their American counterparts met in Agadir from March 21-25 where they prepared for hosting African Lion 2022.
Colonel Teremuura Shamel, head of the Office of Security Cooperation at the US Embassy in Morocco, said that “the 2021 exercises were the largest since the annual training event began in 2004, with the participation of more than 7,000 participants from nine countries and NATO.”
“African Lion is the first multinational joint training in the AFRICOM area of responsibility; It demonstrates our long-standing commitment to Morocco and all of Africa in recognition of the continent’s strategic importance to the United States,” he said.
During the meeting between the officials, the US army handed the Moroccan navy during a ceremony at the port of Agadir, two Metal Shark interception boats.
“Today’s ceremony is another step in the strong security partnership that binds our two countries, focused on maintaining regional peace and stability,” said Shamel.
“Our two navies share a long history of working together to secure the high seas, particularly the eight-mile Strait of Gibraltar, from crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. These challenges transcend international borders, hence the need for collaboration in order to combat them effectively,” he added.
The African Lion maneuvers are scheduled to take place from June 20 to July 1, 2022, in the regions of Agadir, Tan Tan, Al Mahbas, Taroudant, Kenitra, and Benguerir.
sources close to United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the number of participants will be significant, and the maneuvers may see the participation of countries from Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Arab countries.
In September 2021, the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army concluded a six-year joint program to reduce chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, with a budget of $16 million, in partnership with the US Defense Agency.
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