1er REG, 1er REC: Djibouti in 2025

Legionnaires from the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) continue their mission in the Horn of Africa. See images.

The legionnaires of both regiments have been deployed to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa since late 2014. They are assigned to the 5th Overseas Combined Arms Regiment (5e RIAOM) which maintains the French presence in the region. The Legion combat engineers (along with non-Legion artillery elements) are part of the 6th Support Company 5e RIAOM while the Legion cavalrymen (1st Squadron 1er REC) became the 3rd Squadron of the same regiment. For the record, in 2011, the Overseas Combined Arms Regiment replaced at its barracks in Djibouti City the leaving 13e DBLE.

The 1er REG engineers in Djibouti train in order to ensure the operability of the 5e RIAOM Task Force (GTIA5). Their task is to carry out reconnaissance of potentially booby-trapped routes, as well as to be able to rapidly and forcefully cross a network of obstacles under enemy fire or destroy them. The engineers in Djibouti are equipped with the VAB (VAB-Génie, a combat engineer version).

As for the 1er REC cavalrymen, they train in Djibouti with their armored AMX 10 RCR and light armored VBL vehicles, to improve their combat readiness and perfect their firepower.

1er REG - Djibouti - Exercise - 2025
VAB-Génie of the 1er REG combat engineers during an exercise in Djibouti, 2025.
1er REG - Djibouti - Exercise - 2025
Legionnaire of the 1er REG during an exercise in Djibouti, 2025. Behind him, a VAB-Génie.
1er REG - Djibouti - Exercise - 2025
1er REG engineers work with explosives in Djibouti, 2025.
1er REC - Djibouti - 1st Squadron - 2025
AMX 10 RCR armored vehicles operated by the 1er REC men in Djibouti, 2025.

1er REC - Djibouti - 1st Squadron - 2025

1er REC - Djibouti - 1st Squadron - 2025
Legionnaire of the 1er REC with his FN MAG 58 machine gun in Djibouti, 2025.
1er REC - Djibouti - 1st Squadron - 2025
Cleaning of the 105 mm gun. Djibouti, 2025.

Related posts:
1er REC: 1st Squadron in Djibouti in 2024
1er REG: New Caledonia in 2023
13e DBLE: 4th Company in Djibouti in 2024
13e DBLE, 1er REG: Ivory Coast 2023-2024