Latest news with #RoyalArmedForces
Ya Biladi
10 hours ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's $260 million Javelin Missile deal with the U.S. moves forward
Pending Congressional approval, Morocco's order for 612 Javelin missiles was published in the U.S. Federal Register on May 27. This potential sale, valued at $260 million (or 2.61 billion dirhams), has already received the green light from the State Department, as announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in a statement on March 19. «This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa», the statement added. This marks the first major U.S. arms sale to Morocco announced since Donald Trump's return to the White House on January 20. It was followed, on April 15, by a proposal to sell the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) 600 FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles and related equipment for an estimated $825 million (approximately 7.7 billion dirhams). As with the Javelin order, this deal is also awaiting Congressional approval. During Trump's first term, Morocco signed major contracts with the U.S. military industry, including the 2019 purchase of 24 Apache helicopters for $1.5 billion, 25 new F-16 Block 72 fighter jets for $3.787 billion, and the upgrade of 23 older F-16s for $985.2 million.
Morocco World
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
UN Honors Fallen Moroccan Peacekeeper at Annual Memorial Ceremony
Rabat — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has posthumously honored Corporal Karim Temara, a member of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, who died in 2024 while serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. The tribute took place during the UN's annual memorial ceremony held Thursday, May 29, at the organization's headquarters in New York, commemorating civilian and uniformed personnel who lost their lives in peacekeeping operations. The event was attended by Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, and Colonel Najim Assid, Military Adviser to Morocco's Permanent Mission. Corporal Temara was serving with the Moroccan contingent deployed to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) when he died from accidental electrocution. In recognition of his sacrifice, the Secretary-General awarded him the 'Dag Hammarskjold' Medal – an accolade named after the UN's second secretary general, and given posthumously to UN military personnel or civilians who gave their life while serving UN's peacekeeping missions. Temara was not the only Moroccan peacekeeper to lose his life in the line of duty recently; on May 13, another member of Morocco's contingent tragically died in a fatal road accident in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which also left four fellow Moroccan peacekeepers injured. This year's ceremony also paid homage to the more than 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have died in service since 1948, including 57 military, police, and civilian personnel who died in 2024 alone. 'We pay tribute to these brave women and men who died — far from home and their loved ones — while serving the most noble cause of humanity: peace,' said Guterres in his address. 'Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.' Guterres noted that over the decades, more than two million individuals have served in 71 peacekeeping missions across four continents. The secretary-general expressed deep gratitude to all member states for their ongoing support and contributions. Ambassador Hilale offered condolences on behalf of Morocco to the families of fallen peacekeepers and the global peacekeeping community. He praised the courage and dedication of those who died defending peace, security, and the shared values and principles of the United Nations. The official ceremony was preceded by a military parade, during which three officers of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces were honored by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, and Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support — emphasizing the UN's deep appreciation for Morocco's steadfast and significant contributions to global peacekeeping initiatives. Morocco currently ranks among the top ten contributors of uniformed personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with 1,714 Moroccan troops deployed in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). These deployments play a vital role in sustaining the UN's peacekeeping presence amid persistent political instability, armed conflict, and complex humanitarian crises in both countries.
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Announces Special Holiday for Eid Al-Adha on June 9
Doha – The Head of Government's office has announced that government departments and local authorities will observe an exceptional holiday on Monday, June 9, for Eid Al-Adha. The holiday extends the observance of the festival, which falls on Saturday, June 7, corresponding to the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1446H. This decision was made in accordance with Article 3 of Decree No. 2.05.916 issued on July 20, 2005, as amended and supplemented, according to the government statement. The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs had previously announced on Tuesday, May 27, that the month of Dhu al-Qa'dah had completed thirty days. Consequently, the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah is Thursday, May 29, with Eid Al-Adha falling on Saturday, June 7. The ministry clarified that it had monitored the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah for the year 1446H after sunset on Tuesday, the 29th of Dhu al-Qa'dah (May 27). Officials contacted all Islamic Affairs delegates across the kingdom and units of the Royal Armed Forces participating in the crescent observation, who unanimously confirmed that the crescent was not visible. This year's Eid Al-Adha comes under exceptional circumstances as Moroccans have been called to abstain from the traditional sacrifice. On February 26, King Mohammed VI urged citizens to refrain from performing the ritual sacrifice this year due to the alarming decline in the national livestock population. The royal appeal was motivated by economic rather than religious considerations. The national livestock, particularly sheep, has decreased by 38% since 2016, with the number of female breeding stock falling to 8.7 million heads in 2024, compared to 11 million in 2016. This decline threatens the sector's sustainability and has caused red meat prices to soar. The COVID-19 pandemic followed by several years of drought severely impacted livestock numbers. In normal years, approximately 5.5 to 6 million animals would be sacrificed during Eid Al-Adha. Continuing this practice this year would further deplete breeding stock and potentially drive meat prices to MAD 200 ($20) per kilogram. While there is no formal ban on sacrifices, authorities are implementing stricter enforcement of regulations regarding informal practices associated with the holiday. The government has launched a MAD 3 billion ($300 billion) program to help rebuild livestock numbers, with an additional MAD 3.2 billion ($320 million) planned for 2026 to support breeders participating in the female breeding stock preservation campaign. Tags: Eid Al AdhaEid Al Adha HolidayMoroccan government
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Sahara : Moroccan drone strikes Polisario vehicles
On Thursday afternoon, May 29, a drone from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) targeted and destroyed vehicles belonging to the Polisario. «The strike took place near Mijek, east of the Sand Wall, at the border with Mauritania. It is still too early to determine the exact number of casualties among members of the Front's militias. The vehicles were completely destroyed», a Moroccan security source told Yabiladi. Meanwhile, Polisario-affiliated media offered a different version of events, claiming that the Moroccan Air Force drone strike «killed Mauritanian civilians who were searching for gold». The Mauritanian press, particularly outlets based in the Zouerate region, has not yet reported on the incident. Typically, they are the first to cover FAR drone strikes when Mauritanian gold prospectors are affected, often providing the names of the victims. This was the case following the May 16 strike in the locality of Karzaze.
Japan Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
U.S. military shifts message 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) By SAM METZ and MONIKA PRONCZUK The U.S. military is backing off its usual talk of good governance and countering insurgencies' underlying causes, instead leaning into a message that its fragile allies in Africa must be ready to stand more on their own. At African Lion, its largest joint training exercise on the continent, that shift was clear: 'We need to be able to get our partners to the level of independent operations,' Gen. Michael Langley said in an interview with The Associated Press. 'There needs to be some burden sharing," Langley, the U.S. military's top official in Africa, said on Friday, the final day of the exercise. For four weeks, troops from more than 40 countries rehearsed how to confront threats by air, land, and sea. They flew drones, simulated close-quarters combat and launched satellite-guided rockets in the desert. Maneuvers mirrored previous editions of African Lion, now in its 25th year. But mostly gone now is language that emphasizes ideas the U.S. once argued set it apart from Russia and China. Messaging about the interwoven work of defense, diplomacy and development once formed the core of Washington's security pitch. In their place now are calls for helping allies build capacity to manage their own security, which Langley said was a priority for President Donald Trump's Defense Department. '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, referencing U.S. support for Sudan. The shift comes as the U.S. military makes moves to "build a leaner, more lethal force,' including potentially cutting military leadership positions in places like Africa, where America's rivals continue to deepen their influence. China has launched its own expansive training program for African militaries. Russian mercenaries are recalibrating and cementing their role as security partner of choice throughout North, West and Central Africa. In an interview a year ago, Langley emphasized what U.S. military officials have long called a 'whole of government approach" to countering insurgency. Even amid setbacks, he defended the U.S. approach and said force alone couldn't stabilize weak states and protect U.S. interests against the risk of violence spilling out. 'I've always professed that AFRICOM is just not a military organization,' Langley said last year. He called good governance an 'enduring solution to a number of layered threats — whether it be desertification, whether it be crop failure from changing environments, or whether it be from violent extremist organizations.' The 'whole of government approach" no longer occupies the same place at the center of U.S. messaging, though Langley said holistic efforts have worked in places like Ivory Coast, where development and defense had reduced attacks by jihadi groups near its volatile northern border. But such successes aren't a pattern. 'I've seen progression and I've seen regression,' said Langley, who is scheduled to exit his post later this year. The U.S. military's new posture comes even though many African armies remain ill-equipped and insurgent groups expand. 'We see Africa as the epicenter for both al-Qaida and Islamic State,' a senior U.S. defense official said earlier this month, noting both groups had growing regional affiliates and the Islamic State group had shifted command and control to Africa. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the issue publicly. Africa has rarely ranked high on the Pentagon's list of priorities, but the U.S. has still spent hundreds of millions of dollars on security assistance and has roughly 6,500 Africa Command personnel on the continent. In some regions, the U.S. faces direct competition from Russia and China. In others, regional affiliates of al-Qaida and the IS still require direct military action, Langley said. The messaging shift from 'whole of government' to more burden-sharing comes as fears grow that rising violence could spread beyond hotspots where insurgents have expanded influence and found vacuums in which they can consolidate power. Parts of of both East and West Africa have emerged as epicenters of violence. In 2024, more than half of the world's terrorism victims were killed across West Africa's Sahel, a vast desert territory ruled by military juntas, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. The group, which compiles yearly terrorism statistics, also found Somalia accounted for 6% of all terrorism-related deaths, making it the deadliest for terrorism in Africa outside the Sahel. Since Trump took office, the U.S. military has escalated airstrikes in Somalia, targeting IS and al-Shabab operatives. But despite air support, Somalia's army remains far from being able to maintain security on the ground, Langley acknowledged. 'The Somali National Army is trying to find their way,' Langley said, adding that they had regained some footing after years of setbacks. 'There are some things they still need on the battlefield to be very effective.' Similarly in West Africa, the notion that states could soon have the capacity to counter such threats is a distant prospect, said Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks, a security consulting firm. Even before Western influence began to wane in the Sahel, needed military support was limited, threats remained active, and local militaries were left without the tools to confront them. Western powers with a presence in the Sahel have gradually scaled back their engagement, either by choice or after being pushed out by increasingly hostile governments. 'Many of them do not have very strong air forces and are not able to monitor the movement of militants, especially in areas where roads are very difficult to traverse, the infrastructure is extremely poor,' Ochieng, who specializes in the Sahel and Great Power competition in Africa, said. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
