AFRICOM, Morocco Conduct Military Drills in Agadir

U.S. Africa Command, AFRICOM, together with the Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and members of armies from sub-Saharan African countries are currently conducting military exercises focusing on performance in mined terrains in Agadir, local press reported.

According to a senior official from FAR, the military drills aim notably at enhancing performance in terms of field command, maneuvers, arms, fuel supply, medical assistance and peacekeeping.

These military exercises are part of the mission of AFRICOM which represents the newest of what the U.S. Department of Defense calls its Unified Combatant Commands. These commands are both geographic—such as the European Command (EUCOM), the Pacific Command (EUCOM), and AFRICOM—as well as functional—such as Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) or Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

Every year, AFRICOM organizes the African Lion military exercises in Morocco with the participation of partner countries. These exercises aim at improving interoperability and mutual understanding of African partner nations’ tactics, techniques and procedures.

Last July, the African Sea Lion military drills between the US Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), the US Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Morocco’s Royal Navy focused on mutual training and interoperability.

AFRICOM is based in Senegal after Morocco refused to offer it a permanent base.