French military to support security on October 24

On Tuesday, October 20, the French Interior Minister announced that military personnel from the "Sentinelle" force would be deployed for the mobilization day on October 24. The minister explained that the goal is to free up police and gendarmes to focus on overseeing demonstrations.

Sentinelle soldiers will not replace police functions

The deployment aligns with legal frameworks, but the term "substitution" might be misleading. Soldiers will take the place of police officers on static security missions but will not assume their functions or police powers.

Sentinelle's usual role and new purpose

The Sentinelle force typically secures buildings such as places of worship, schools, train stations, and airports. However, the October 24 deployment will have a different purpose: to support law enforcement during demonstrations by taking over static guard duties.

Legal basis for military involvement in civil security

According to the French Defense Code, the army can be requisitioned for exceptional security measures. This legal framework allows the military to assist civil authorities under specific conditions, as seen in the reorganization of the Sentinelle operation in the summer of 2025.

Legal requisition and military command

The use of military forces for civil security requires a legal requisition, as stated in Article L. 1321-1 of the Defense Code. This requisition is issued by the prefect to the military commander, and the military remains in command of the deployed forces, not directly under police authority.

Military engagement based on the "4 i" rule

An interministerial instruction from 2017 states that the military is only engaged if civil authority resources are nonexistent, insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable. This "4 i" rule, while not legally binding, guides current operations, such as the October 24 deployment where police are unavailable for static guards.

Sentinelle soldiers have limited authority

Sentinelle military personnel are not authorized to conduct identity checks, investigations, or place individuals in custody. They can only assist public agents if requested and can use weapons only in absolute necessity, such as to protect lives or secure locations.