On Wednesday evening, September 2, 2026, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) commemorated the 123rd anniversary of the Battle of El Moungar, the 1903 desert engagement whose date became the regiment’s main holiday. After last year’s ceremony at the regimental barracks in Nîmes, southern France, the event returned to the Roman amphitheater (Arena) in the center of the city, built in the first century AD and still in use today.
2e REI: 2025 El Moungar Day
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) officially commemorated the 122nd anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar and paid tribute to the 36 men of the regiment who had fallen during it.
2e REI: 2024 El Moungar Day
On Monday, September 2, 2024, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) officially commemorated the 121st anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, an important part of the French conquest of the Sahara, and the 36 men of the regiment who had fallen during it.
120 years ago: A violent battle in Algeria
In early September 1903, a violent battle was fought in Algeria between men of a Foreign Legion mounted company and a Moroccan war party. The battle that lasted more than seven hours resulted in heavy casualties on the Legion side.
2e REI: 2023 El Moungar Day
On September 2, 2023, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) commemorated the 120th anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, a crucial moment in their history. See the images.
2e REI: 2021 El Moungar
After four years, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) commemorated once again their regimental holiday, El Moungar, in public. See the images.
2e REI: El Moungar 2019
In early September 2019, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) of the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 116th anniversary of the famous Battle of El Moungar. The battle occurred at El Moungar, in the Bechar region of western Algeria, on September 2, 1903. That day, a half-company of the then 2nd Foreign Regiment (2e RE) was attacked by a war band of Moroccan Berbers.
2e REI: El Moungar 2018
On September 2, 2018, the 115th anniversary of the famous Battle of El Moungar occurred. The battle took place at El Moungar, a waterhole north of Taghit, western Algeria, on September 2, 1903. That day, the 22nd Mounted Company, 2e RE (2e REI now) were ambushed by a Moroccan war party.
2017 El Moungar Day: 2e REI to commemorate the 114th anniversary of the battle
Tomorrow, on September 2, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) will commemorate the 114th anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, in which 113 men of the regiment fought against Moroccan Berbers close to the Sahara of western Algeria. The date of the event has become the regimental holiday, El Moungar Day.
Read more2017 El Moungar Day: 2e REI to commemorate the 114th anniversary of the battle