The French government has made some clarifications concerning the presence of over 800 military personnel at the Port of Mombasa last week, which sparked the interest of many people in the country. The French government, through its embassy in Kenya, announced today, Monday, that the military personnel were in the country as part of a routine naval mission in the region.
In a statement released on Monday, the French government explained that the French naval group arrived at Mombasa Port on the 13th and left the country on the 16th, a brief stopover as part of a five-month naval operation called Jeanne d’Arc.
The naval group arrived at Mombasa on the 13th and left on the 16th, according to the Monday announcement by the government of France, indicating that this was only a brief stopover as part of the five-month operation, code-named Jeanne D’Arc.
The naval group comprises two warships, Dixmude and Aconit, which are passing through the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The primary aim of the operation is to train young naval officers, with the secondary aim of promoting the protection of global maritime routes. During the stopover, the crew of the naval group also met with Kenyan authorities.
Kenya and France are strengthening their relations, especially in the area of maritime security in the Indian Ocean, the embassy explained. The French Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, welcomed the naval group during their stopover in the coastal city.
France is part of international operations like Operation Atalanta, which focuses on fighting pirates and ensuring the safety of ships transiting through strategic water routes.
This stopover came just a few months after Kenya and France signed an agreement in October 2025 to enhance cooperation in defence field. The agreement presents an opportunity for training to advance military relations.
The French fleet to dock in Mombasa has generated interest among the public, especially at a time when there is tension in the Middle East.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has explained that the move to send more forces to different regions of the world is mainly to protect the country’s citizens and allies.
