The Moroccan and Algerian armies will both take part at the US-led Flintlock 2019 military games in Burkina Faso and Mauritania from February 18 to March 1, 2019. The two North African rivals have closed borders since 1994 with Algeria backing a separatist front that waged a war against Morocco until 1991. More than 2,000 service members from more than 30 African and western partner nations will participate in Flintlock 2019. The north African country bought $9.7 billion worth of armament in 2017 and $10.217 billion in 2016. A report by Strategic Defence Intelligence said last year that Morocco is set to become Africa’s leading military power by 2022.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 04, 2019 14:03 UTC