Agadir: A large-scale counter-weapons of mass destruction (C-WMD) exercise was held Tuesday at Agadir’s Grand Stade as part of the joint Morocco-U.S. military exercise African Lion 2026, conducted in line with High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the exercise forms part of Morocco-U.S. cooperation in disaster management and simulated a highly complex emergency scenario during a major continental football event attended by more than 40,000 spectators. The situation began with a fire outbreak in a stadium shop, triggering panic among the crowd. Simultaneously, several spectators exhibited severe respiratory and skin symptoms, while NRBCE (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, Chemical, Explosive) detection systems showed the presence of a chemical agent near key technical facilities.
The crisis quickly escalated with the discovery of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and the simulated release of a chemical agent, followed by an explosion in a storage area containing flammable materials. These cascading incidents intensified confusion and significantly complicated response operations.
In response, special forces were rapidly deployed to identify, locate, and apprehend hostile individuals involved in the simulated attack. Security services also detected a drone flying above the operational area, posing an additional threat, which was promptly neutralized using an advanced anti-drone system.
Further threats emerged with the discovery of another booby-trapped vehicle in the stadium’s underground parking, aimed at disrupting rescue efforts and causing casualties among responders. Moroccan and American EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) units intervened to safely neutralize the device using a remotely operated robot, followed by decontamination procedures and medical evacuation operations by air.
This exercise aimed to test and enhance interoperability between Moroccan and U.S. forces, as well as coordination with various national and international stakeholders involved in NRBCE emergency response. It also assessed the efficiency of standard operating procedures (SOPs), while identifying logistical, technical, medical, and communication challenges associated with managing complex chemical threat scenarios.
Launched on April 27, African Lion 2026 is held until May 8 across multiple locations in Morocco, including Agadir, Benguerir, Tan-Tan, Taroudant, Dakhla, and Tifnit. As the largest military exercise on the African continent, it plays a key role in strengthening operational, technical, and procedural interoperability among participating forces, while reflecting the longstanding and strategic partnership between the Royal Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces.