A group of 14 military observers representing 7 countries attended, Monday at Cap Draâ (north of Tan-Tan), military maneuvers which are part of the combined Moroccan-American exercise “African Lion 2024”.
The “African Lion 2024” exercise, organized by the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army in accordance with the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), aims to strengthen the operational, technical and procedural interoperability between the participating armies.
Considered the largest exercise conducted on the continent, “African Lion 2024” brings together military executives to exchange procedures and experiences, particularly in terms of training and combined joint training.
During these maneuverers, which took place on Monday at the maneuvering field at the mouth of the Wadi Draâ, which represent a rehearsal for the closing of this exercise scheduled for next Friday in the same area, ground military maneuvers were carried out with the participation of FAR and US Army units.
These ground maneuvers, which included heavy artillery fire, tank fire and infantry maneuvers, were attended by Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Southern Zone Chief of Staff, Major General Ahmed Bousserbat, Commander of the Oued Draâ military sector, and military observers from Angola, Gabon, Zambia, Senegal, Cameroon, the United Arab Emirates and France.
In a statement to MAP, Commander Ayoub Outaleb, head of the armored unit of the "African Lion" exercise, said operational training was carried out on Monday at the mouth of the Oued Draâ, during of which the participants demonstrated a high level of preparation and professionalism in the execution of the tasks assigned to them, emphasizing that this exercise anew confirms the strength of the partnership and cooperation between the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army.
For his part, Drew Ryder, an American soldier, commended the “African Lion” exercise, adding that this experience “will remain one of the best” in his career.
"I am very proud to work and train with my Moroccan brothers in arms,” he said.
For his part, Lieutenant-Colonel Ousmane Dieme, military observer of the Senegalese forces, expressed his joy at participating in this joint exercise between the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army, "which constitutes a wonderful experience that contributes to strengthening ties between the participants”.
"It is a great opportunity for us to see the units of the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army carry out large-scale military maneuvers,” he said, adding that these maneuvers constitute an opportunity to test interoperability between the different forces and to witness these maneuvers on the ground.
He stressed that the "African Lion" exercise is meant to strengthen security in the region, welcoming the coordination efforts between the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army to conduct these maneuvers in a coordinated and efficient manner.
Around 7,000 members of the armed forces from around twenty countries in addition to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are taking part alongside the FAR and the US Army, in the combined Moroccan-American exercise “African Lion 2024” (May 20-31).
Contributing to strengthening operational, technical and procedural interoperability between the participating armies, the “African Lion 2024” exercise, the largest exercise in Africa, is an annual event where military executives come together to exchange procedures and experiences, particularly in terms of training and combined joint training.
This twentieth edition testifies to the sustainability which characterizes cooperation between the FAR and the US Army, reflecting the historical and solid links which between the two countries.
