National homage Monday to the Invalides. At 3 pm, a ceremony will be held in memory of the 13 dead soldiers in Mali, during the collision of two helicopters. Emmanuel Macron is to pronounce the eulogy, emphasizing the heroism of the soldiers mobilized to protect the French. "We must remind the French of the meaning of the missions of our soldiers," he said.
An adviser explains: "He will speak of the heroism and sacrifice of these men, and what it means 'dead for France'." The Elysee insists: "The time is for meditation ... for mourning." The death of the 13 soldiers caused a shock in France, where the army had not recorded such a loss since the 58 dead in the attack against the French headquarters Drakkar in Beirut in 1983. It also revived the questions around the French engagement in the Sahel, where the security situation continues to worsen, even if only insubordinate France Jean-Luc Mélenchon openly calls for the return of troops. "Time is not up to questions about the geopolitics of the Sahel" slice a close to the President.
"The whole nation must be involved"
Emmanuel Macron asked that the ceremony be more accessible than usual. From 11:30, the French will be able to collect coffins on Alexandre III bridge, and access to Invalides will be possible from 13:30 to 14:30. Then a giant screen will retransmit the tribute on the esplanade des Invalides. Schoolchildren from Pau, Varces and Gap will be present at the Invalides, alongside mayors and flag bearers of the cities of the mourning regiments. "It is the whole nation and all generations who must be involved in this tribute", explains the entourage of the president. More than 2,000 people are expected in the courtyard.
At the end of the ceremony, after having posthumously handed a legion of honor to the 13 soldiers killed, Emmanuel Macron will meet their families in the strictest intimacy.