By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
DJIBOUTI, July 15, 2026 – French forces in Djibouti marked France's National Day on Tuesday with a military ceremony highlighting longstanding defence cooperation with Djibouti and showcasing newly deployed military equipment.
The ceremony was held at Air Base 188 and was presided over by General Sébastien Vallette, commander of the French Forces in Djibouti (FFDj). It was attended by Djibouti's Interior Minister Omar Abdi Saïd, French Ambassador Jérôme Bresson, military veterans and senior civilian and military officials from both countries.
French military units deployed under the France-Djibouti Defence Cooperation Treaty took part in the parade, including the 5th Overseas Joint Regiment, the French Naval Base, Air Base 188 and support units.
A contingent of the Djibouti Armed Forces also participated in the military honours, reflecting close cooperation between the two armies.
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The ceremony featured recently introduced French military equipment, including NH90 Caïman and H225M Caracal helicopters, which flew over the parade. On the ground, troops marched alongside Griffon armoured vehicles, recently deployed to replace older VAB personnel carriers.
France has around 1,500 military personnel stationed in Djibouti, according to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. The ministry describes the base as a strategic hub supporting French operations and defence cooperation in the Horn of Africa and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
The French military presence is governed by a bilateral defence cooperation treaty signed in 2011 and in force since 2014.
French forces in Djibouti support joint training, regional surveillance and security missions around the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.