France to deploy troops alongside police for Saturday protests after admitting failures

France will reinforce police with troops and mount a major security operation for cost-of-living protests planned on Saturday 24 October, the government said on Tuesday, acknowledging failures in its response to last weekend’s violence.

“The deployment next Saturday will be massive,” Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, adding that the immediate priority was restoring order after rioting and looting swept Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities on 17 October.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told the National Assembly that soldiers from the Sentinelle force would be deployed alongside police, mainly taking over static surveillance duties to free officers and gendarmes for direct intervention against violent groups. Nunez also named elite units — the BRI, GIGN and RAID — along with helicopters, Centaure armoured vehicles and water cannon, all to be used more heavily than on 17 October.

Lecornu admitted shortcomings in the state’s weekend response: intelligence failures, police deployments that were too static, and the authorities’ error in not cancelling planned police leave. Nunez apologised, saying: “I deeply regret what happened. I accept my share of responsibility.”

Parliament is setting up a commission of inquiry into the causes of the unrest, while 200 investigators have been assigned to identify those involved in the street violence. Targeted curfews — some applying to under-18s — were extended through Tuesday night and brought a night of relative calm, the government said.

The new Yellow Vests coordination group and student unions including UNEF have called for Saturday’s mobilisation over rising living costs and deteriorating public services.

Sources

• Reuters (via Dunya News): “France to deploy troops, admits to failures over weekend unrest” — https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/978759-france-to-deploy-troops-admits-to-failures-over-weekend-unrest
• France 24 with AFP and Reuters (via Modern Ghana): “French PM blames ‘ultra-left’ groups for weekend riots, promises ‘massive’ security deployment” — https://www.modernghana.com/news/1537718/french-pm-blames-ultra-left-groups-for-weekend.html
• TRT World: “France to impose more curfews amid fresh protest call” — https://www.trtworld.com/article/137d39023626/amp
• Reuters (via Korea Times): “France to deploy troops, admits to failures over weekend unrest” — https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/world/20261021/france-to-deploy-troops-admits-to-failures-over-weekend-unrest