Morocco and Ethiopia launch military cooperation

Morocco and Ethiopia have launched their joint military committee following a meeting in Addis Ababa, according to Atalayar on 22nd January. The meeting was attended by senior army officials from both sides, and it follows on from agreements signed in June 2025 in Rabat, to strengthen security ties between the two states. These deals cover training, joint drills, research and military health.

This cooperation reflects Morocco’s growing influence across the African continent, with a large number of investments and agreements to consolidate its diplomatic and economic position. Ethiopia has been a privileged partner for the past 10 years, following a landmark visit of King Mohammed VI to the Eastern African country in 2016, where he was received by Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn.

Since then,the cooperation has flourished, with various trade and agricultural deals leading to exports between both countries passing $20 million. A joint fertilizer factory project, with Morocco supplying phosphate and Ethiopia potash and gas, has become a flagship for the continent, reflecting the Cherifian King’s vision of “South-south cooperation“.

Ethiopia is a strategic choice for Morocco because of the growing geopolitical importance of the Horn of Africa, and the Kingdom’s desire to establish itself as an “important continental actor“. Addis Ababa is also the siege of the African Union Commission, which Morocco rejoined in 2017. Despite the fact that Ethiopia has historically sided with the Polisario Front on the Western Sahara issue, supporting the right to self-determination of Sahrawi people, the two states have been able to develop a diplomatic relationship beneficial for both.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, would benefit from Morocco’s military experience, particularly from access to the ‘African Lion’, the annual military drill co-organized by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the US Africa Command. The event, involving over 10,000 soldiers from across the African continent and covering land, air and sea, is the largest of its kind in Africa. The 2026 exercise will be held in May in Morocco and Tunisia.

Atalayar, Morocco World News, Maghrebi.org