1er REG: 1st Company in Guiana in 2025 | French Foreign Legion Information

From June to October 2025, legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) were deployed to French Guiana, South America, as part of a short-term overseas mission (mission de courte durée, MCD).

In French Guiana, the 1st Company 1er REG served as the rotational engineering company attached to the 9th Marine Infantry Regiment (9e RIMa). This unit, together with the Legion’s renowned 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI), is stationed in the territory to safeguard France’s overseas department in the Amazon region.

Both regiments are combined units made up of regular personnel and smaller rotating detachments that typically change every four months. While the 3e REI is based in Kourou, the 9e RIMa is garrisoned about 40 miles (65 km) to the southeast, in Cayenne.

During their four-month deployment, the legionnaires of the 1er REG took part in Operation Harpie, aimed at dismantling illegal gold-mining networks plundering the rainforests near the Suriname border. They achieved notable success, destroying a record 70 illegal mining sites. In addition, Legion engineers built advanced outposts deep in the jungle, reinforcing the French military’s presence and enhancing security throughout the region.

For reference, the 4th Company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) had previously been deployed to French Guiana from February to June 2025, also assigned to the 9e RIMa.

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