French Soldiers Face Discipline Over Rhodesian Flags Linked to White Supremacists

France's Ministry of the Armed Forces has initiated disciplinary proceedings against several soldiers after they were photographed holding flags linked to Rhodesia. Rhodesia, a former white minority-ruled territory in southern Africa, has symbols that have been adopted by white supremacists.

Images emerged showing two separate groups of French soldiers, one in Nîmes, France, and another in the United Arab Emirates, displaying the same banner. These images were later shared in online groups that glorify the former British colony. Rhodesia operated a system of white-minority rule similar to South African apartheid. One widely shared image depicts three soldiers holding a flag with three green and white stripes, featuring a coat of arms with a pickaxe, antelopes, and a golden bird.

“

The ministry's position is unambiguous: French armed forces do not tolerate any manifestation of a racist, supremacist or extremist nature.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces confirmed that the soldiers involved have been identified and disciplinary actions are underway. It emphasized that the two incidents were unrelated and involved different soldiers. The ministry issued a firm statement: "The ministry's position is unambiguous: French armed forces do not tolerate any manifestation of a racist, supremacist or extremist nature."

It further stressed that military personnel are held to a high standard of exemplary conduct and neutrality, which extends to their online behavior and social media posts. The ministry's swift response aims to distance the French military from any association with racist or supremacist ideologies, reinforcing its commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

“

Military personnel are subject to a particular requirement of exemplary conduct and neutrality, which also applies to their behaviour and posts on social media.