The United States (US) and Morocco are conducting joint military exercises, codenamed African Lion, in Morocco near the disputed Western Sahara in the Maghreb region of northwest Africa. More than 7,000 personnel from nine countries and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) participated in the drills, which began on June 8 and will conclude on Friday.
“African Lion is US Africa Command’s [Africom] largest exercise. The training focuses on enhancing readiness for US and partner nation forces,” Africom stated. It added that the drills are “spread across Morocco [and] are also occurring in Senegal and Tunisia.” Africom commander General Stephen Townsend called the exercises an example of the US’ “long-term commitment to Africa and recognition of Africa’s strategic importance” to America.
The war games include land, naval, and sea exercises. Africom said the manoeuvres are a “multi-domain, multi-component, and multi-national exercise, which will employ a full array of mission capabilities to strengthen interoperability among partner nations.” It mentioned that exercises featured air manoeuvres, including “bombers, fighters, and aerial refuelling.” The drills also saw naval gunfire exercises carried out by the US and Moroccan navies. Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that rockets were also fired as part of the exercise, which was held about 50 kilometres from the Algerian town of Tindouf, where the separatist Polisario Front has a base.
After colonial power Spain withdrew from North Africa in 1975, Morocco claimed virtually 80% of Western Sahara. However, the Sahrawi peoples claimed the remaining area, whose national liberation movement is known as the Polisario Front. They seek to establish an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which Morocco has refused to accept, leading to a 16-year war between the Polisario Front and Morocco.
A United Nations (UN)-brokered ceasefire was established in 1991, with a path towards a referendum on the region’s future. However, this vote was never set up, leaving the concerns of both sides unaddressed. While Morocco has offered to provide autonomy to the SADR, this deal has been rejected by the Sahrawis, who wish to attain full sovereignty.
In December 2020, former US President Donald Trump recognised Rabat’s claim over Western Sahara in return for its recognition of Israel. A month before Trump’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, the Polisario Front broke an almost 30-year-old ceasefire to declare war on Morocco.
The ongoing African Lion exercise comes when tensions have risen over Western Sahara as both Morocco, and the Polisario Front have carried out attacks against each other. In March, the International Crisis Group called on the UN to appoint a special envoy to the region to mediate de-escalation, warning that the situation was in danger of escalating further.
As part of the drills, the US military also carried out “humanitarian civic assistance” in Morocco by setting up a surgical field hospital and providing medical aid. Africom is charged with the “responsibility of enhancing security and stability in Africa to advance and protect US' national interests.”
US Conducts Military Drills In Morocco Near Disputed Western Sahara
Over 7,000 personnel from nine countries and NATO are taking part in war drills led by the US in Morocco.
June 16, 2021
SOURCE: AFP