Latest news with #MohammedBerrid
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Military Pullback in Africa Opens Door for China and Russia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. military is shifting its Africa strategy away from long-standing efforts to address governance and root causes of conflict. Instead, Washington is pressing African security forces to operate more independently as America reduces its footprint. At African Lion 2025, the U.S. military's largest joint exercise on the continent, this strategic shift was evident. "We need to be able to get our partners to the level of independent operations. There needs to be some burden sharing," General Michael Langley, the top U.S. military official in Africa, told The Associated Press. Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon for comment. Why It Matters This transition comes amid rising threats from Islamist insurgents and expanding influence by Russia and China on the continent. While the U.S. reduces direct involvement, militant groups affiliated with al-Qaida and Islamic State are gaining ground, increasing the risk of violence spreading beyond current hotspots. The shift also reflects Pentagon priorities under President Donald Trump's administration, focusing resources on homeland defense and expecting allies to assume greater responsibility. Gen. Michael Langley, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, center, and Major General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, attend the 21st edition of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of... Gen. Michael Langley, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, center, and Major General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, attend the 21st edition of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, May 23, 2025. More Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP Photo What To Know African Lion, held across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, brought together troops from over 40 nations for a month of joint training in air, land, and sea operations. Exercises included drone flights, close-combat drills, and satellite-guided rocket launches. But alongside these maneuvers, the military's messaging has moved away from its traditional "whole of government" approach that combined defense, diplomacy, and development to stabilize fragile states. General Langley said that the U.S. now aims to build partner capacity rather than lead security efforts. "We have our set priorities now — protecting the homeland. And we're also looking for other countries to contribute to some of these global instability areas," he said, citing ongoing support for Sudan. Beijing and Moscow Influence Meanwhile, China and Russia are rapidly expanding their influence in Africa through military training, arms sales, and private mercenaries. China runs extensive cooperation programs, including joint exercises with several African nations, aiming to secure strategic partnerships and resource access. Russia, via the Wagner Group and other contractors, provides combat support in the Sahel and Central Africa, gaining ground in unstable regions. These moves challenge the U.S.'s traditional security role and complicate Africa's geopolitical landscape as Washington steps back. A target is hit with artillery fire as U.S and Moroccan military forces take part in the 21st edition of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, May 23, 2025.... A target is hit with artillery fire as U.S and Moroccan military forces take part in the 21st edition of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, May 23, 2025. More Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP Photo What People Are Saying U.S. General Michael Langley stated: "We need to be able to get our partners to the level of independent operations. There needs to be some burden sharing." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in April: "We have held the first meeting in the new Russia-Alliance of Sahel States format... Russia confirmed today that it is prepared to... assist in formation of the Joint Forces of the Alliance of Sahel States by providing advisory services." What Happens Next As General Langley prepares to leave his post later this year, the U.S. military faces mounting challenges maintaining influence while encouraging African nations to assume greater security roles. Whether partners can rise to the task amid growing insurgencies and rival powers will shape the future of U.S.-Africa relations and regional stability.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
U.S. military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own
Gen. Michael Langley, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, center, and Major General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, attend the 21st edition of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
FAR Inspector General Receives UN Mission Commander to Boost Military Cooperation
Doha – Royal Armed Forces Inspector General Mohammed Berrid received UN Mission Commander Division General Fakhrul Ahsan Thursday at the Southern Zone headquarters in Agadir. The meeting brought together senior military officials from both organizations as part of regular consultations between FAR and the United Nations mission operating in Morocco's southern provinces. Colonel Alexander Kask, Chief of Staff of the UN mission force, accompanied General Ahsan to the high-level talks. The commanders discussed ongoing mission activities and examined coordination mechanisms that have developed between the two military structures over recent months. Both sides acknowledged the exceptional level of cooperation achieved in operational coordination, security, demining efforts, and logistical support. The productive working relationship has enabled smoother implementation of mission objectives despite regional challenges that continue to complicate peacekeeping efforts. These periodic encounters between FAR leadership and UN commanders have become instrumental in maintaining effective communication channels. During these meetings, they discuss operational concerns while strengthening collaborative frameworks established since the mission's deployment in the territory. A commitment to peacekeeping Morocco's military contributions to international peacekeeping provide critical context to this collaboration. With a legacy of over 65 years in UN peace operations, the country currently ranks as the world's eighth-largest contributor, fielding 1,718 blue berets across four theaters of operations in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan. Moroccan peacekeepers are deployed under diverse mandates — from civilian protection to post-conflict stabilization — earning widespread recognition for their discipline and effectiveness. UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to Morocco's peacekeeping contributions during the 2024 International Peacekeepers' Day ceremony, posthumously honoring two Moroccan soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the Central African Republic under the UN flag. Likewise, in his address marking the 69th anniversary of the Royal Armed Forces last week, King Mohammed VI stressed the urgent need for military vigilance and professionalism in the face of unprecedented regional and international disruptions. He also gave high remarks for the men and women of the FAR 'who watch over our land, air, and sea borders day and night, as well as the various units stationed in our Moroccan Sahara, for their dedication in fulfilling their sacred duty to protect the unity of the Homeland and its security—giving full meaning to the values of solid cohesion that characterize all Moroccans in the defense of their first national cause.' During the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, Morocco's delegation shared field-based recommendations calling for mission mandates grounded in on-the-ground realities. The country also advocated for the value of specialized pre-deployment training. To that end, it has established a Peacekeeping Training Center of Excellence in Benslimane, set to become a regional hub for advanced operational preparation. Separatist violations derail peacekeeping framework However, the Polisario Front's systematic ceasefire violations have severely disrupted MINURSO operations since November 2020. The separatist movement unilaterally abandoned its commitments under Military Agreement No. 1, which it had signed with the United Nations in 1991 following years of armed conflict. The separatist group's decision to terminate ceasefire obligations has destabilized the buffer zone and undermined decades of peacekeeping progress. Polisario continues provoking confrontations in the demilitarized area while attacking international institutions through inflammatory rhetoric and accusations of bias. Morocco maintains strict adherence to the military agreement despite persistent provocations from the separatist group. FAR continues supporting MINURSO operations within available parameters while defending national territory against repeated infiltration attempts and armed harassment. The separatist front's escalating recklessness has deeply unsettled international observers, who now sound urgent warnings over the growing risk of conflict in the Western Sahara. Polisario's blatant contempt for UN authority, coupled with its willful and repeated breaches of international law, constitutes a grave threat to regional peace and security. The militia, increasingly viewed as a terrorist group and reportedly under consideration for formal designation, undermines the very foundations of multilateral diplomacy and fuels instability across North Africa. Tags: Moroccan Royal Armed Forcesthe UN mission in the Western Sahara
Maroc
14-05-2025
- General
- Maroc
General Staff Celebrates 69th Anniversary of FAR
A ceremony was held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) in Rabat, on the 69th anniversary of the creation of the FAR. Chaired by Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, FAR Inspector General and Commander of South Zone, the ceremony was marked by the raising of the national colors and the reading of the Order of the Day addressed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of FAR, to officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. In this Order of the Day, the Sovereign stated that the 69th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Armed Forces is 'a renewed national opportunity to remember, with greater gratitude and deference, the memory of its founder who laid the first milestones, the Father of the Nation, Our Grandfather, the fighting King, the late His Majesty Mohammed V, may God sanctify His soul, and His companion in battle, Our August father, the late His Majesty King Hassan II, may God rest his soul, who took care to consolidate the foundations of our Armed Forces, to equip, train and qualify them so that they could fully carry out the missions entrusted to them.' His Majesty the King also stressed that 'this anniversary — so dear to Us — shall remain one of the remarkable milestones in the History of our Homeland, which We, as Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, celebrate with pride, reiterating to you, all ranks, officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, women and men, and all corps, land, air, naval and Royal Gendarmerie, Our immense benevolence and solicitude for the colossal efforts and enormous sacrifices you constantly make in defense of the Homeland and its territorial integrity.' 'We seize this opportunity to welcome the laudable achievements of military service, as a national project that offers young Moroccan men and women the opportunity to fulfill their national duty, by taking advantage of the material and moral resources of the military institution, which enable them to imbibe the values of discipline, perseverance, endurance and self-negation, in addition to training in various fields and specialties that will enable them to enter the job market and contribute to the renaissance of their country and society, while taking pride in their belonging, their Moroccan identity, their country's history and glories, and loyalty to their King and the constants of their Nation,' HM the King said. The Sovereign noted that 'the accelerating changes taking place in the world, the growing challenges posed by the current situation and the unprecedented regional and international disruptions they generate, as well as the resulting cross-border security and criminal threats, require our Royal Armed Forces to arm themselves with wisdom, vigilance and in-depth knowledge, so that they can constantly adapt to these new developments and be ready to face them with insight, firmness and professionalism.' 'To keep pace with these changes, His Majesty's attention had to be focused, continuously and precisely, on the development and enrichment of military training programs and the improvement of scientific training curricula, both theoretical and practical, within our higher institutes and military training centers,' HM the King said. The Sovereign also pointed out that 'Preserving the accomplishments We have achieved requires us to continue mobilizing, with the same determination and the same degree of loyalty, to consolidate the strength and resilience of Our Army, equipping it with high-performance and operational means, while enabling its command staff and personnel to improve their material and moral achievements, and providing and bringing closer the necessary social and medical services to their families and loved ones.' On this occasion, several officers, non-commissioned officers and privates were decorated with Wissams which were awarded to them by HM the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the FAR. The ceremony was also marked by the organization of a military parade in which detachments of the Headquarters Battalion under the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces took part. The 69th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Armed Forces provides an opportunity to underscore the major accomplishments achieved by the FAR, since their creation in 1956 by the late HM King Mohammed V, setting it up as a model of operational efficiency, strategic innovation and international influence for an institution resolutely committed to modernization and which continues to embody, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR, the supreme values of loyalty, discipline and dedication. MAP: 14 mai 2025
Morocco World
28-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, Spain Discuss Reinforcing Military, Security Cooperation
Rabat – Rabat hosted the 11th meeting of the Morocco-Spain Joint Military Commission today, where Moroccan and Spanish military representatives reiterated their determination to boost security cooperation at all levels. The meeting focused on reviewing the achievements of the 2024-2025 period and included discussions covering what activities will be planned for next year's program. Both the Moroccan and Spanish delegation emphasized their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two countries' armed forces. As part of the meeting, Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the Southern Zone, received General of the Army Corps Fernando Jode Lopez del Pozo, Director General of Defense Policy at the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The two officials welcomed the cooperation between the two countries, which focuses on military training in the field, exchange of expertise, and visits, among other avenues. Spain and Morocco share good diplomatic ties, with the two countries determined to cooperate at all levels, including security. The Spanish government frequently stresses the importance of Morocco as a strategic ally, contributing to the region's security and stability. Morocco's security services constantly hand over intelligence to Spain, enabling the European country to safeguard its borders from different security challenges, including irregular migration and terrorism threats. Recently, the Spanish police dismantled several terrorist cells in coordination with Morocco's security services, including the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). Collaboration between the two countries also covers joint military training and more. In March, Spanish news outlet OKDiario reported on data compiled by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, showing that Spain has increased its arms exports to Morocco by 1,264.77% in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching a total value of €21 million – up from €1.5 million in 2023. The data also shows that rifle, gun, and spring pistol exports to Morocco increased by 10% in 2024, reaching €205,564. The majority of the exports also covered bombs, grenades, and torpedoes, with the total export value jumping from €1 million in 2023 to €12.8 million in 2024. Spain's arms imports from Morocco remained minimal, totaling only €1,277 in 2024, with €660 spent on rifles and spring pistols, and €617 on sabers, swords, and bayonets.
