With each passing day, we learn a bit more about the new day of protest planned for this Saturday, October 24, 2026 across France. On Wednesday, October 21, the coordinator of the Yellow Vests, Benjamin Ball, confirmed on France 2 the persistence of this "Act II", noting that he had proposed to the Police Prefecture a route for the Paris demonstration, between Bastille and Opéra.
For his part, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced at the National Assembly on Tuesday that he would "boost the pool of available personnel by mobilising the BRI, the GIGN, the RAID, helicopters, the Centaures, and water-canning launchers." But that’s not all, as the minister also confirmed the deployment of Sentinelle forces. Their mission will be to "step in for the interior security forces, primarily on static security duties," he specified.
According to the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans, "as part of Operation Sentinelle, launched in January 2015, 10,000 soldiers are deployed across the national territory to defend and protect the French". The troops on this operation are typically stationed at all "sensitive sites" identified by prefectural authorities, including places of worship, schools, certain tourist attractions, as well as train stations and airports.
This Saturday, October 24, 2026, for the "Act II" of the Yellow Vests movement, soldiers from Operation Sentinelle will be deployed to "free up police and gendarmes to carry out crowd-control and public-order duties." But then, which sensitive sites in Paris could be affected by this military deployment? Where in the capital might Sentinelle troops be stationed this Saturday?
For now, the government has not yet provided the details of this military deployment. But, according to Journal du Dimanche, 1,000 troops will be available in Paris on October 24, including 500 on patrol, compared with 300 typically. Also per JDD, embassies and the Cercle national des armées, based in the 7th arrondissement, could be among the sensitive sites to be protected this Saturday. The Arc de Triomphe, vandalized on December 1, 2018, could also be involved in the military arrangement. As the JDD notes, the army’s mission will be to secure sites, not to police demonstrations.
"Act II" of the Yellow Vests this Saturday, October 24: what to expect in Paris?
The Yellow Vests call to push the movement forward across France with an "Act II" planned for this Saturday, October 24, 2026. Planned routes, soldiers from Operation Sentinelle deployed... What should we expect in Paris? Here's what you need to know. [Read more]
"Act II" of the Yellow Vests this Saturday, October 24: what to expect in Paris?
