U.S. and Morocco Plan Advanced Tech Center to Combat African Terrorism

The United States Africa Command (Africom) is set to establish the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC) in Tan-Tan, Morocco by 2030. This new facility aims to bolster counterterrorism efforts across Africa through advanced technological training and experimentation. The AMTEC will serve as a hub for developing and testing innovative military technologies, including drones and other emerging systems.

The center's establishment follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Africom and the Moroccan government, highlighting their joint commitment to enhancing regional security. The AMTEC is designed to address growing concerns over terrorist activities in Africa, particularly in countries like Mali and Somalia where militant groups have expanded their influence despite international efforts to combat them.

General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commander of Africom, emphasized during a recent congressional hearing that Africa has become an epicenter for global terrorism, with both ISIS and al-Qaida having significant presences on the continent. He noted that these terrorist networks are increasingly interconnected and pose a direct threat to U.S. interests.

The AMTEC will feature multiple components including a multidomain training area equipped to simulate various combat scenarios across different domains such as land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. Additionally, it will include a drone academy focused on the operational use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for counterterrorism missions.

A key aspect of AMTEC is its Innovation and Experimentation Center, which aims to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and military entities in developing low-cost yet scalable technological solutions. This initiative reflects Africom's strategy to leverage emerging technologies while ensuring affordability and accessibility for African partner nations.

Recent research from the University of Cambridge has highlighted how terrorist groups are increasingly adopting advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their operations. The AMTEC is positioned to counter such threats by providing cutting-edge training and technological advancements to combat these evolving challenges.

While Africom's presence in Africa has been reduced over recent years, the command remains vigilant about potential security risks. Anderson warned of an intelligence gap that could impede early detection and response to emerging threats. The AMTEC is seen as a proactive measure to address this issue by enhancing situational awareness and operational readiness among African military partners.

The upcoming 2026 African Lion exercise, Africom's largest annual joint training event, will serve as an initial test case for the AMTEC's capabilities. This year’s iteration involved more than 40 countries and underscored the importance of technological integration in modern warfare scenarios.

As the U.S. military continues to adapt its global posture to meet contemporary security challenges, initiatives like the AMTEC represent a strategic pivot towards leveraging technology and partnerships for enhanced regional stability. The center's establishment underscores the evolving nature of international counterterrorism efforts and the critical role of innovation in maintaining security across Africa.