Died in action for France (and Belgium)

(BRUSSELS2) The death of a legionnaire from the 2nd REP near Tessalit sparked reactions on both sides of the Franco-Belgian border. The 33-year-old master sergeant, who died in a clash, was, in fact, from Brecht (near the Dutch border, not far from Breda). Naturalized French, he had kept his Belgian nationality. And this is how, in turn, the French Minister of Defense, JY Le Drian, then the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders sent their condolences to the family.

« Staff Sergeant Harold Vormezeele fell while carrying out the mission that had been given to him, to defend on Malian soil our security and our freedom. With his brothers in arms, I pay homage to Harold Vormezeele, who died for France. Our determination to fight the terrorist groups that threaten the integrity of Mali is total and our operations will continue, under the authority of the President of the Republic.", declared Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence. While at the end of the evening, Didier Reynders shared " with sadness at the passing of Staff Sergeant Harold Vormezeele » and presented « his sincere condolences to his family and friends.”.

A non-commissioned officer of the parachute commando section of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2nd REP) in Calvi, Harold Vormezeele was killed during combat 50 km south of Tessalit. This is the second soldier to die for France in Mali, after battalion commander Damien Boiteux, who died in combat in the first hours of Operation Serval.