Yesterday, Monday June 27 at 2 p.m., a CASA plane of the armed forces of the southern zone of the Indian Ocean (FAZSOI) landed at the international airport of Seychelles, with on board about thirty French soldiers belonging to the 2eRPIMa, accompanied by their commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Yann Le Gall, deputy commander of Reunion.

This formation will parade in front of the President of the Republic Wavel Ramkalawan and the Seychellois authorities during the parade organized on the occasion of the National Day and the Independence Day, on June 29th. The French armed forces have thus responded to the Seychelles’ invitation, thus testifying to “the excellent relations between the Seychellois and French armed forces and more generally the ties uniting our two countries”, declared Ambassador Dominique Mas on the tarmac. from the airport, when welcoming his compatriots.

“The FAZSOI carry out numerous training missions for the Seychelles armed forces; they also contribute to the security of the maritime territory of the Seychelles within the framework of the missions of Operation ATALANTA and EUNAVFOR; it was natural for them to be associated with the Seychellois celebrations. I am proud to be able to see the French troops parade alongside their brothers in arms from the Seychelles Defense Forces,” added the French Ambassador.

The 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (or 2nd RPIMa) is a parachute infantry unit of the French army created in 1947. It joined Reunion in 1973 where it joined the 2nd company of Bourbon, traditional island company.

The 2nd RPIMa is responsible for missions of (i) protection of the sovereignty of French territories in the Indian Ocean, (ii) cooperation for the benefit of the armed forces of friendly countries and (iii) intervention (military operations within the framework evacuation of nationals abroad or support for civilian means within the framework of population assistance missions).

The 2nd RPIMa has the capabilities of a light parachute infantry regiment, capable of intervening in aquatic or terrestrial environments. Each year, it recruits dozens of new reservists who undergo an initial two-week training.

Source: Seychelles Nation