Ex-Algerian Minister Urges UN to Cancel US-Morocco Military Exercise in Western Sahara

In the eyes of Abdelkader Bengrina, a former Algerian minister and one of the political figures close to the regime in Algeria, the organization of the annual military maneuvers "African Lion 2024" in the Sahara desert constitutes "an illegitimate aggression on sovereign areas of Western Sahara". "These operations are a violation of the principle of self-determination that the United Nations oversees," he denounced during a meeting. He calls on the UN Secretary-General to stop them on the grounds that these maneuvers "oppose the effort of self-determination". The Algerian political actor also called on the participating countries in the 2024 edition of the "African Lion" to boycott it. These maneuvers "violate the sovereignty of legitimate Sahrawi territories and waters," he argued.

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The announcement of the holding of African Lion 2024 in the Sahara has also pushed the Algerian army chief of staff, Saïd Chengriha, to multiply military maneuvers and training for the benefit of the Algerian forces, in order to improve their preparation and their ability to face all security threats. The annual training and exercises that Algeria organizes with regional and international partners, including an annual military exercise with Russia on Algerian territory, prove to be insufficient due to the climate of regional tension.

The 2024 edition of the "African Lion" will take place from May 20 to 31 in the regions of Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tata, Kénitra, Ben Guérir and Tifnit. This annual military exercise aims to consolidate the military cooperation between Morocco and the United States, and to promote the exchange between the armed forces of the participating countries, with the aim of promoting peace, security and stability in the region. The Southern Zone Command of the Moroccan Armed Forces hosted the final planning meeting for the "African Lion 2024" exercise from March 11 to 15 in Agadir. Planners from about ten countries, including representatives of the Royal Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces, finalized the arrangements for the various activities planned in the program of this twentieth edition, the General Command of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) said in a statement.