13e DBLE: A legionnaire died in Mayotte | French Foreign Legion Information

Friday, April 20, 2018, a legionnaire of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) died in Mayotte. In March 2018, he deployed with his company there to maintain the French presence in the Indian Ocean, between the coast of Southeast Africa and Madagascar.

Born in Ecuador (South America) in May 1993, Sergeant Anthony Paiba Valverde joined the Foreign Legion as a volunteer in February 2012, in his 18. After his initial four-month formation, he was assigned to the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) in Nimes, southern France, in June 2012. Because of his determination and military qualities, he gained the rank of Corporal in January 2015. Two years later, in December 2016, Anthony Paiba Valverde became Sergeant.

With his unit, he deployed to Mali in 2013, to the United Arab Emirates in 2014 and to Ivory Coast in Africa in 2015. In February 2017, Sergeant Paiba Valverde was assigned to the 3rd Company, 13e DBLE. In late March 2018, he and his company deployed to Mayotte, to serve within the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte, while the rest of the regiment serves in Mali in West Africa at the same time.

April 20, 2018, during a patrol along the crater of Lake Dziani, located on a smaller island called Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), Sergeant Anthony Paiba Valverde, 24, fell from a high cliff and suffered fatal injuries. He was a father of a small girl. R.I.P.

By coincidence, a year ago, on April 28, 2017, another sergeant of the 13e DBLE died during his service, this time in France. Sergeant Steeve Fulilagi, 31, born in New Caledonia.

A month earlier, March 21, 2018, a corporal of the 2e REI died in Iraq during his mission.

In 2017, at least 7 legionnaires from different regiments have died during their service duties.

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