21st 'African Lion' Exercise Kicks off in Agadir
In accordance with the High Instructions of HM the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the FAR and the U.S. Armed Forces are jointly hosting the 21st edition of the 'African Lion' Exercise, which runs until May 23.
An opening ceremony was held, on Monday 12 May , at the South Zone Headquarters in Agadir, marking the official launch of this multinational joint exercise, attended by representatives from the participating countries.
Co-chaired by Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the South Zone, and Brigadier General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commander of SETAF-AFRICA, the ceremony included a presentation of the command post simulation scenario and the related activities planned as part of this 21st edition.
Speaking on this occasion, Major General Mohammed Benlouali underlined that the 21st edition of Exercise "African Lion" reflects the strength of the partnership and the spirit of cooperation uniting the FAR, the United States Armed Forces, and the brotherly and friendly countries taking part in this Exercise.
This reinforced partnership, he added, has contributed to the development of skills across the various activities scheduled throughout the previous editions of the Exercise.
For his part, Brigadier General Daniel Cederman emphasized 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."
"The Kingdom of Morocco's commitment to African Lion demonstrates the strength of our alliance," he stressed, noting that "each of us is committed to promoting peace, prosperity, and security in the region and across the world."
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.
The 21st edition of Exercise "African Lion" 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 Exercise aims to strengthen military cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America, develop interoperability, and enhance response capabilities in a multinational context, thereby contributing to the promotion of peace, security, and stability in the region.
(MAP: 13 May 2025)
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