Republican Guard (France)

Republican Guard (France)

The Republican Guard (French: Garde républicaine) is part of the French Gendarmerie. It is responsible for providing security in the Paris area and for providing guards of honor.

Its missions include:

• Guarding important public buildings in Paris such as the Élysée Palace (the residence of the President of the French Republic), the Hôtel Matignon (the residence of the Prime Minister of France), the Palais du Luxembourg (the Senate), the Palais Bourbon (the National Assembly), the Hall of Justice, and keeping public order in Paris.
• Honor and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests;
• Support of other law enforcement forces (with intervention groups, or horseback patrols);
• Staffing horseback patrol stations, particularly for the forests of the Île-de-France region;
• Transporting and escorting urgent organ transplants.

The close physical protection of the President of France is entrusted to the GSPR (Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République), and the SPHP (Service de Protection des Hautes Personalités); neither is part of the Guard.

The Republican Guard also fulfills an important diplomatic role, representing France at international events abroad and receiving important dignitaries at home.

The Republican Guard is twinned with the Red Guard of Senegal.