By Khalid Mejdoub and Rania Abu Shamala
RABAT, Morocco/ISTANBUL (AA) - The Moroccan army announced Saturday that the African Lion military exercises will be held May 12 - 23, with the participation of more than 30 countries, including the US.
A statement by the General Command of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces said African Lion is considered one of the largest military exercises on the African continent.
“Under the instructions of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Armed Forces, in partnership with the United States Armed Forces, will organize the 21st edition of the African Lion exercise from May 12 to 23, 2025, in the cities of Agadir, Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir, and Tifnit,” it said.
African Lion represents a key platform to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise among the armed forces of participating countries, especially in training and joint exercises.
The exercise contributes to enhancing interoperability at the operational, technical and procedural levels, the statement said.
It will include the participation of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces, along with more than 30 other countries acting as participants or observers from Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
The exercise will feature operational activities, including day and night field and tactical training exercises on land, sea and air.
It will also involve special forces drills, airborne operations and a joint operational planning exercise for staff officers in a “task force” format, in addition to parallel activities with humanitarian and social dimensions.
The first edition of African Lion was in 2007 as a joint initiative between Morocco and the US.
The drills are held annually, often with participation from European and African countries, and are sometimes conducted in more than one edition per year.