North African Military Exercise Stirs Tensions with Morocco over Western Sahara

The North Africa Regional Capability (NARC), comprising Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, as well as the Polisario Front, is organizing a joint field exercise titled "Africa Peace 3," scheduled from May 21 to 27, 2025, on Algerian territory. In Morocco, the participation of the Polisario in this military exercise, alongside Arab countries, is perceived as "a dangerous precedent and a direct provocation to the territorial integrity of the kingdom."

In the eyes of Moroccan observers, "this provocative approach takes place in a regional context marked by growing tensions, which requires a firm diplomatic response and a unified national position, reflecting the unanimous attachment of Moroccans to the unity of their country, from Tangier to Lagouira, and their rejection of any attempt to instrumentalize military exercises for political purposes contrary to international legality."

Founded in 2007, the North Africa Regional Capability (NARC) plays a crucial role in maintaining stability and security in North Africa. NARC aims to strengthen the capacities of member countries through effective military, police, and civilian cooperation. It constitutes one of the five pillars of the African Standby Force (ASF), a continental structure designed to intervene rapidly in case of crisis and for peacekeeping in Africa.