The head of Algerian political party the National Construction Movement, Abdelkader Bengrina, has urged the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to ban the «African Lion 2024» military exercise, co-organized by the armies of Morocco and the United States. «These maneuvers, scheduled from May 20 to 31, 2024, constitute an illegitimate aggression against territories belonging to Western Sahara. These operations raise concerns regarding the principle of self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter», he denounced during a political rally. Bengrina, who is known for his close ties to the Algerian government, also urged the countries participating in the 2024 edition of the «African Lion» to «boycott» it, arguing that these military exercises «violate the sovereignty of territories claimed by the Sahrawi people». For the record, on the eve of the start of «African Lion 2023», President Abdelmadjid Tebboune held a meeting of the High Security Council, devoted to «examining the general situation in the country and at border level», as the Algerian presidency had stated in a press release. This year's military exercise will take place in the regions of Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tata, Kénitra, Ben Guérir and Tifnit.
