History

Present in Mayotte in various forms and under different names since 1967, the 5th Foreign Regiment (5RE) established itself under its current name on the Rocher at Dzaoudzi on 1 April 1976. Comprising a permanent command and logistics company and an infantry company on short-duration deployment, it today has nearly 300 personnel.

Under the operational command of the French Armed Forces in the Southern Indian Ocean (FAZSOI), whose headquarters is in Saint‑Denis, La Réunion, the 5RE conducts a wide range of missions, many of them linked to the detachment’s strategic position in the Mozambique Channel.

Mission

As part of its protection missions, the 5RE is in charge of:

Upholding, in the military sphere, France’s sovereignty over the department of Mayotte and the Glorieuses Archipelago; the 5RE conducts operational preparation (MPO) missions that enable training while building knowledge of the department;

It also mans a detachment to ensure a permanent military presence on the Glorieuses Archipelago. Taking part in security or public‑service missions on national territory, it contributes to securing the homeland under Operation Sentinelle;

In support of the internal security forces, it contributes to the protection of the borders.