The US military on Tuesday denied a tweet by Morocco’s prime minister that US-led African military exercises this month would take place in the disputed region of Western Sahara. Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani said last week on Twitter that the training “marks the consecration of American recognition of the Moroccan Sahara”. Rabat has offered Western Sahara autonomy, but maintains that the territory is a sovereign part of the kingdom. “There will be no joint manoeuvrers in Western Sahara as part of ‘African Lion 2021’ in which US forces will participate,” Salek told AFP. Madrid has angered Rabat after Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali was treated in a Spanish hospital for Covid-19 in April.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 02, 2021 15:24 UTC