US, African partners begin planning for African Lion 2027
AGADIR, Morocco — U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (Forces Armées Royales or "FAR") hosted the initial planning event for African Lion 2027, the largest multinational military exercise on the African continent.
African Lion 2027 is designed to strengthen interoperability, improve readiness and enhance capacity for combined and joint operations in support of regional stability. The exercise will include participation from more than 45 nations and span land, sea, air, space, cyber and intelligence domains.
Along with this initial planning event, the glidepath includes a main planning event in December 2026, a final planning event in February 2027, and execution scheduled to begin April 19, 2027.
“This initial planning event is where we begin laying the groundwork for African Lion 2027,” said U.S. Army Col. Benjamin Roark, director of training and exercises, SETAF-AF G7. “It’s our opportunity to bring the team together, listen to one another, take lessons from previous African Lion exercises and shape what we want to achieve next.”
Over five days, U.S. and FAR military planners met at Southern Zone headquarters to outline goals, set timelines and identify potential training locations. Smaller working groups used designated spaces at the joint task force headquarters to discuss organization and logistical requirements.
Planners considered multiple ways to integrate new technology into training scenarios. Key objectives under discussion include experimental operations with emerging equipment and incorporating industry partners into exercise design.
“African Lion remains focused on building combined joint force readiness,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Corbett Baxter, branch chief and lead planner for African Lion, SETAF-AF G7. “The exercise enables us to work together with our multinational partners to ensure that, when asked, we are able to deploy forward and operate as a multinational force.”
The exercise continues to emphasize multilateral and bilateral partnerships, commemorating 250 years of U.S.–Moroccan cooperation, and providing venues for safe industry participation and capability demonstration.
Planners explored a wide range of training events for the execution phase, including combined-arms maneuvers, live-fire exercises, maritime and air operations and a command field exercise (CFX) as the centerpiece. The CFX is designed to integrate vendor and industry partners directly into training, ensuring new technologies are tested alongside military units in realistic scenarios.
Discussions also included potential weapons of mass destruction training in Agadir, special operations training in Cap Draa, and humanitarian civic assistance projects in various locations. These activities remain under consideration as planning teams refine concepts of operations, logistics, site surveys and industry integration.
Alongside field training, African Lion planners continue to develop a robust academic program. Courses under review include joint operations planning, intelligence operations, cybersecurity, electronic warfare and noncommissioned officer development. These sessions intend to build doctrinal knowledge and staff skills that support operational objectives.
The 2027 edition of African Lion, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of Morocco’s recognition of the United States as a nation, will usher in a new era of partnership, readiness and innovation, setting the stage for emerging technologies and multinational cooperation across the African theater.
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