U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III attended the first humanitarian assistance activity of the African Lion 2026 military exercise in Dakhla on May 6, according to the U.S. Embassy in Morocco.
The event, part of the larger African Lion exercise, focused on providing medical and dental care to local residents. It marked the first time such a humanitarian component was held in Dakhla, a city in the disputed Western Sahara region.
African Lion is a joint military exercise between the United States and Morocco, involving thousands of troops from multiple countries. The 2026 edition runs from May 6 to May 20 and includes training in counterterrorism, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed the ambassador's participation but did not provide specific numbers of patients treated or the exact types of services offered. The humanitarian activity underscores the ongoing military cooperation between the two nations.
