Canadian Army to Join 2016 ‘African Lion’ Exercise in Morocco

The Canadian Army will work alongside representatives from countries such as Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the United States during Exercise African Lion on April 18-28, according to official statement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Canadian Army will deploy to Agadir, Morocco to take part in the UN-mandated peace-building training activities part of Exercise African Lion April 18-28, Canada’s Ministry of National Defence announced in a statement on Thursday.

"Nine Canadian Armed Forces officers, including members from the Canadian Army, will be working with participants from 11 nations to advance multinational interoperability and capacity building in the context of peace support following a potential regional crisis," the statement said.

The Canadian Army will work alongside representatives from countries such as Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the statement.

Exercise African Lion would allow the Canadian Army to "reinforce cooperation with multinational forces, strengthen its defence capabilities, maintain strategic posture, and prepare to respond to crises on the African continent," the statement noted.

Canadian service members will engage in "crisis action planning" and other operations to support UN peace operations, including countering illicit trafficking, as well as training one another in the laws of armed conflict, the statement added.

According to the Canadian Defense Ministry, African Lion is the "largest multinational exercise on the African continent" and combines land, air and naval components.