Gen. Langley makes first visit to North Africa as commander

Photo By Africom Pao | U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command, greets General Belkhir El Farouk, inspector general of the Moroccan Armed Forces and commander of the Southern Zone, to discuss shared security interests and future areas of potential cooperation in Rabat, Morocco, on Oct. 17, 2022. The visit to Morocco, followed by a stop in Tunisia, was Langley's third to Africa since taking command. (photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Morocco)  

RABAT, MOROCCO

10.20.2022

Story by Africom Pao 

U.S. Africa Command

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley visited Morocco and Tunisia, Oct. 17-19, on his first trip to North Africa since taking command of U.S. Africa Command on Aug. 9, 2022. The command Senior Enlisted Advisor, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher accompanied Langley on the three-day trip which included stops to meet with host nation military leaders, U.S. Chiefs of Mission, and U.S. Navy sailors currently in the region.

“Our partnerships in North Africa help support regional security, and maritime security in the waters off NATO’s southern flank,” Langley said. “We’re grateful for our strong partnerships here, and look forward to continued cooperation that helps strengthen peace, security and prosperity in the region for years to come.”

During the stop in Rabat, Morocco, Langley and the U.S. Embassy team met with Mr. Abdellatif Loudiyi, the Moroccan Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, in charge of the National Defense Administration, to discuss shared security interests and future areas of potential cooperation.

At a visit to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces headquarters, Langley had an Honor Guard Pass and Review before holding meetings with the Inspector General of the Moroccan Armed Forces and Commander of Southern Zone, General Belkhir El Farouk; and Inspectors General of the Royal Moroccan Air Force and Navy, General de Division Alaoui Bouhamid and Vice-Admiral Mostafa El Amai, among others. While at the headquarters, Langley visited the Directorate of Military History in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Vichy French North Africa during World War II.

In Tunisia, Langley and U.S. Embassy Chargée d'Affaires Natasha Franceschi met with the Tunisian Minister of National Defense Imed Memmiche to underscore the importance of the U.S.-Tunisia longstanding military partnership and participated in a roundtable with Tunisian Service Chiefs. Langley also laid a wreath at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia, the final resting place for 2,841 American soldiers who served during World War II.

"It was an honor and privilege to be a part of the wreath laying at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunisia," Thresher said. "It is humbling to stand amongst the 2,841 American heroes buried here and even more humanizing to see the names of 3,724 Americans missing in action. Without their dedication and ultimate sacrifice in this critical area, the world could look much different. We must never forget!"

While in Tunisia, Langley also visited the USNS Trenton, which is at port at La Goulette Pier, before departing back to U.S. Africa Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

Scheduling conflicts prevented a planned stop in Algeria to meet with
military leadership there as a part of this trip. The U.S. has a strong
security relationship with Algeria, as evidenced by a recent port call and
engagement by the USS Farragut as well as cooperative efforts to combat
malign activity on Africa’s Mediterranean coast, and Langley looks forward
to a future visit.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2022
• Date Posted: 10.20.2022 07:48
• Story ID: 431687
• Location: RABAT, MA