12/09/2026
AFL Chief of Staff Deepens Military Cooperation with Morocco, Secures Training and Equipment Support
By Journalist Archie Ayouba Boan
RABAT, MOROCCO: The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Major General Davidson F. Forleh, is undertaking an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco aimed at strengthening bilateral defence relations and translating the Liberia–Morocco Military Cooperation Agreement into practical military support.
The visit, which runs from September 6–14, 2026, is being conducted at the invitation of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and seeks to advance cooperation in military training, exercises, technical ass istance, military health, and professional military education.
A major outcome of the ongoing engagements is Morocco’s commitment to facilitate commando training for an AFL composite company-sized element in Morocco, exposing Liberian military personnel to advanced individual and collective training, fieldcraft, and operational techniques.
The Moroccan side has also committed to supporting the AFL with four vehicles, including a command vehicle, as well as training aids and selected equipment intended to strengthen the force’s training and operational capabilities.
The support is being provided pursuant to the High Royal Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
The Liberia–Morocco Military Cooperation Agreement, signed in Rabat on October 21, 2025, provides a framework for cooperation in military training, exercises, technical assistance, military health, and the exchange of experience and expertise.
The agreement also establishes a Joint Military Commission responsible for identifying priorities, coordinating implementation, and developing structured cooperation programmes between the two Armed Forces.
High-Level Military Engagements
On the first day of the visit, Major General Forleh and his delegation visited the Mausoleum, where they participated in a wreath-laying ceremony and recitation of the Fatiha, in keeping with the historical and institutional traditions of the Kingdom of Morocco.
The delegation subsequently visited the Royal Moroccan Air Force Inspectorate, the Air Transport Base, and the Royal College of Higher Military Education.
Discussions and facility tours focused on professional military education, aviation and air transport capabilities, and institutional development.
Of particular significance was Morocco’s commitment to support the AFL’s efforts to establish and operationalize an Air Wing, including the training and development of qualified personnel.
The Royal College of Higher Military Education also indicated its readiness to provide opportunities for AFL officers at appropriate staff and higher defence education institutions.
On Tuesday, September 8, Major General Forleh held high-level discussions with General of Army Corps Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone, at the FAR General Staff Headquarters in Rabat.
The discussions centered on practical modalities for cooperation in training, military exercises, and exchange visits, consistent with the October 21, 2025, military cooperation agreement.
The delegation thereafter visited the 1st Parachute Brigade and Mohammed V Military Hospital, where they examined operational training, military health capabilities, and areas where Moroccan expertise could support AFL capacity development.
Military Health and Maritime Cooperation
Military health has emerged as another key area of cooperation during the visit.
The AFL Medical Command Commander, Major Dr. Albertha Clark, briefed the Moroccan side on the current state of AFL military health services, including institutional capabilities and key challenges.
The engagement identified opportunities for the training and exchange of medical personnel, technical cooperation, and appropriate arrangements for specialized medical referrals.
The delegation is also scheduled to engage with additional Moroccan military institutions, including the Royal Military Academy in Meknes, the Royal Moroccan Navy Inspectorate, the Royal Moroccan Naval Academy, and other naval facilities.
The planned naval engagements are expected to explore cooperation in maritime security, naval operations, professional military education, technical training, and Liberia Coast Guard capacity development.
Joint Military Commission to Guide Implementation
A central feature of the visit is the effort to establish a structured implementation mechanism for the 2025 Military Cooperation Agreement.
The Joint Military Commission is expected to provide the institutional framework for converting identified areas of cooperation—including command and staff education, commando training, air capability development, maritime training, military health, exercises, equipment support, and personnel exchanges—into annual cooperation programmes.
These programmes would include agreed priorities, training quotas, timelines, focal points, and responsibilities.
The approach is intended to ensure that the bilateral military relationship produces measurable outcomes in professional development, operational readiness, and institutional capacity.
Major General Forleh is accompanied by his Military Assistant, Lieutenant Colonel Francis O. Gbodi, and the Commander of the AFL Medical Command, Major Dr. Albertha Clark.
Liberia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, His Excellency Joseph Johnson, has also participated in the engagements.
The official visit represents an important step in strengthening Liberia–Morocco military relations and creating new opportunities for sustained cooperation between the two Armed Forces.
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