The head of government, Saadeddine El Othmani, welcomed on Twitter that part of the African Lion 2021 exercise is taking place «in the Moroccan Sahara in Mahbes and near Dakhla, with the participation of around 10,000 Moroccan and American soldiers». «It crowns the American recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara», he stressed. #المغرب : بدأت "مناورات الأسد الإفريقي 2021" التي سيجرى جزء منها لأول مرة في الصحراء المغربية بمنطقة المحبس وقرب الداخلة، بمشاركة نحو 10 آلاف عسكري مغربي وأمريكي وآخرين من 8 دول وملاحظين من 21 دولة، مما يعتبر تتويجا للاعتراف الأمريكي بمغربية الصحراء pic.twitter.com/mHIDFVmST6 — سعد الدين العثماني EL OTMANI Saad dine (@Elotmanisaad) May 29, 2021 His tweet did not go unnoticed as it was quickly relayed up by EFE. «The head of the Moroccan government confirms that the (military) maneuvers with the United States include the Sahara», wrote the Spanish press agency. «El Othmani's announcement is important because it is the first step of the new American administration confirming the declaration of the previous president, Donald Trump (2017-2021)», the same source added.
