Rabat: In implementation of the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the African Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS-2026) is being held in Rabat from July 20 to 24.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the Summit is organized by the Royal Navy, in partnership with the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVAF) and U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa (MARFORAF). It serves as a forum for discussions on maritime security challenges and aims to strengthen regional cooperation between African leaders and their U.S. counterparts, as stated by the FAR General Staff.
The event is structured around three main pillars: maritime security, regional cooperation, and technological innovation. In addition to African countries, the Summit brings together civilian and military officials from Morocco and the United States, as well as representatives from several other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Republic of Korea, the U
nited Arab Emirates, Spain, France, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Norway, Oman, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Trkiye.
The opening ceremony is co-chaired by Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector of the Royal Navy, and Colonel-Major Abdellah Athmani, Chief of the 2nd Bureau of the FAR General Staff, along with Admiral Georges Wikoff, NAVAF Commander, and Major General Daniel L. Shipley, Commander of MARFORAF.
The program includes conferences and presentations by experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, focusing on the Royal Atlantic Initiative and other topics. Specialists from the Royal Navy will address issues such as coordination in hydrography, oceanography, and cartography; developments in International Hydrographic Organization standards; the role of Regional Hydrographic Commissions; regional coordination of maritime search and rescue operations; and maritime domain awareness and surveillance.
On the sidelines of the Summit, a
maritime security exhibition is scheduled for July 21, featuring institutional booths hosted by the Royal Gendarmerie, the Royal Navy, and other national agencies and port complexes.