5th Foreign Regiment, 5e RE. The newly reactivated regiment of the French Foreign Legion. It is stationed in the Quartier Cabaribère in Dzaoudzi, Mayotte (an archipelago in the Indian Ocean).
It was initially activated as the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (DLEM) in 1976. In autumn 2024, the DLEM was transformed into a new 5th Foreign Regiment (5e RE). The previous 5e RE was disbanded in French Polynesia in 2000.
History of the 5th Foreign Regiment
Discover the history of the original 5e RE, from 1930 to 2000:
History of the 5th Foreign Regiment
Current structure of the 5th Foreign Regiment
The 5e RE (in 2024) is divided into two companies: a permanent company and a rotational company. The unit consists of almost 300 men, including 110+ permanent elements of the Legion and about 155-180 rotational elements (provided by the Legion or French Army regular units), usually rotating every four months.
The 5th Foreign Regiment is a fully operational unit that is ready to deploy in 48 hours. The regiment’s main mission is to maintain France’s presence in the region and support French forces operating in the southern zone of the Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa. The 5e RE runs the Maritime Familiarization & Training Center (Centre d’Instruction et d’Aguerrissement du Nautique, CIAN) and provides military training to the armed forces of the adjoining regions, by offering an Operational Training Detachment (DIO) or a Technical Training Detachment (DIT). The unit’s other missions are to intervene in response to humanitarian crises and to protect the region from illegal immigration. Also, the DLEM’s commanding officer serves as the military commander of Mayotte.
Twice a year, 5e RE units go to Réunion or Madagascar to train in shooting with machine guns and sniper rifles and using grenades and explosives at firing ranges there.
The 5e RE also regularly deploys (since 1997) a fully autonomous rotational detachment to a military outpost on the outlying Glorioso Islands (or The Glorieuses), for a mission usually lasting between four and eight weeks.
The 5th Foreign Regiment is assigned to the South Indian Ocean Zone Armed Forces (FAZSOI). It is also subordinate to the Abroad & Overseas Specialized HQ (EMSOME), together with the 3e REI.
In 2024, the 5e RE is composed of:
- HQ & Logistics Company (Compagnie de Commandement et de Logistique, CCL)
- Infantry Combat Company – a unit comprising rotational elements
| NICKNAME: | Regiment of Tonkin |
|---|---|
| ACTIVATION: | 1930 |
| MOTTO: | “Legio Ultra Maria” (Legion beyond the seas) |
| REGIM. MARCH: | Le front haut et l’âme fière |
| OFFIC. FB PAGE: | 5e Régiment Etranger |
| FFL INFO POSTS: | 5e RE’s category |
Location of the 5th Foreign Regiment
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