Morocco asks US military to help test new cyber defence teams as African Lion plans expand

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces raised the idea during talks with specialists from the Utah National Guard and other US military organisations.

The discussions covered American exercises that could be used to assess how Morocco’s new teams detect and respond to digital threats.

The talks also focused on African Lion. Moroccan representatives said they wanted cyber activity to become part of the exercise itself, rather than remain confined to classroom training.

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This is a shift in what the partners are discussing, not confirmation of a new operation. The US Army has described plans and invitations under consideration, but has not announced that a cyberattack scenario is scheduled for the African Lion.

The discussions took place at a working group in Bedford, Massachusetts, from July 27 to 31. They build on earlier : Moroccan personnel observed US cyber teams during a Utah exercise in April.

The US Army’s account, published September 29 ⁠, said Moroccan officials asked whether exercises such as Cyber Shield or Wolverine could help validate the cyber protection teams being formed in Morocco. The Army said they also supported including cyber activity in African Lion’s exercise component.

Why African Lion matters

African Lion brings together forces from the United States, Africa and other partner countries for training across several military fields.

The 2026 edition was held in Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia and involved more than 5,600 personnel from over 40 nations, according to US Africa Command. The command described it as its largest annual joint exercise.

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Cyber training is therefore relevant beyond Morocco. A simulated attack during a multinational exercise could test how participating forces identify a threat, information and keep systems working while carrying out other tasks. That is the purpose the proposed training could serve, not a result already demonstrated by it.

US Air Force Capt. Robert Matheny, who directs the Utah Guard’s state partnership programme, said Moroccan representatives wanted practical ways to assess their teams- “ Moroccan partners asked whether National Guard cyber validation exercises, such as Cyber Shield or Utah exercises like Wolverine, could be used to validate cyber protection teams the FAR is standing up in Morocco .”

Matheny also outlined the scope of the African Lion proposal, saying the Utah National Guard plans to incorporate cyber-focused expert exchanges into year’s programme. The effort is expected to include planning a cyberattack scenario for future African Lion exercises.

Utah’s National Guard and Morocco have worked together through the US State Partnership Program since 2003. The new discussions show that their cooperation is extending further into military cyber training, as Morocco builds teams that could be tested in US exercises.