Morocco, US Launch African Lion 2026 Military Exercise with Over 5,000 Troops

Rabat – Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces have officially launched the 22nd edition of the joint military exercise “African Lion,” which will run until May 8.

The opening ceremony took place on Monday at the headquarters of the Southern Zone Command in Agadir, with representatives from participating countries in attendance. The event was co-chaired by Lieutenant General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, and Major General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commander of the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa.

During the ceremony, officials presented the concept and main activities planned for this year’s exercise. Benlouali said the exercise represents an important step in strengthening military cooperation between Morocco and the US, as well as with other participating countries. He added that the goal is to improve operational readiness, coordination, and joint planning capabilities.

Cederman stated that partnership is at the core of African Lion, noting that this year’s focus is on readiness, interoperability, and the ability to carry out joint missions in complex environments. “We are building forces capable of responding quickly and effectively to shared challenges,” he said.

More than 5,000 military personnel from around 40 participating and observer countries are taking part in the exercise.

African Lion 2026 will be held in several locations across Morocco, including Benguerir, Agadir, Tan-Tan, Taroudant, Dakhla, and Tifnit. The program includes land, air, and naval exercises conducted both day and night, as well as special forces drills, airborne operations, and field command exercises.

This year’s edition also expands into new areas such as space operations, electromagnetic warfare, and cybersecurity. Unmanned aerial systems are integrated into both planning and execution phases.

The exercise includes training on responding to weapons of mass destruction, along with humanitarian activities. A field military hospital will provide medical and social services to residents in the rural commune of El Faid in Taroudant, with additional services planned in Dakhla.

An academic phase, launched on April 20 and running until April 30, supports the preparation for command and field exercises. It includes 20 specialized units focused on the use of emerging technologies, including drones, cybersecurity tools, and space-related operations.

The African Lion is considered the largest military exercise in Africa. It aims to improve coordination and technical cooperation between participating forces and provides an opportunity to exchange expertise, particularly in training and joint operations.

MWN with MAP

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