Denard and 33 hand-picked mercenaries docked their ship, Vulcain, at Moroni harbour and descended on the city, forcibly removing the figures of the official government before the ill-equipped army was aware.

Denard's popularity during the early 1980s enabled him to mobilise 300 supporters within five days and place them around ports and airports, where they would be most effective to ambush French invaders with submachine guns.

Eventually, 400 marines and 200 other special operations experts began cruising the Indian Ocean in patrol boats and the frigate Floréal,[4] with helicopters and superior logistics.

Although small defending forces had managed to repel attackers in the past, this would usually involve some specific advantage in intelligence, training or guerilla tactics.

The special forces encircled the French mercenaries in the barracks in the early hours of 5 October, and Denard was arrested at 15:00 and flown to a Parisian jail.