Major US-Morocco Military Exercise "African Lion 2019" Kicks Off in Multiple Regions

This exercise is considered one of the most important joint exercises in the world. Its objectives, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR): to validate the employment concepts of ground forces, strengthen the interoperability of the means and air-land command systems used by the two nations, train the air component in the conduct of fighter and air-to-air refueling operations, and finally carry out humanitarian activities.

This 16th edition of African Lion will see the participation of units and observers from five other countries, namely Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, Senegal and Tunisia. It is jointly organized by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Royal Armed Forces, with the aim of consolidating the level of cooperation and training as well as the exchange of experience and knowledge between the various military components, according to the same source.

On the menu, training in command activities, training on operations to combat violent terrorist organizations, as well as ground, airborne and tactical simulation exercises.

As for the humanitarian activities, they are civil-military and would involve medical services for the local populations in the Tata region, provided by medical teams composed of doctors and nurses from the two armies: the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army.