Central African Republic
Practice Relating to Rule 14. Proportionality in Attack
The Central African Republic’s Instructor’s Manual (1999) states in Volume 1 (Basic and team leader instruction): “Combatants must: … limit destruction to the necessities of the mission.”
In Volume 2 (Instruction for group and patrol leaders), the manual states: “Inspired by a feeling of humanity, … [IHL’s] underlying principle is that the warring parties may not inflict on their adversary suffering that is not proportional to the purpose of war, which is to destroy or weaken the enemy.”
Also in Volume 2, the manual states:
Precautions must be taken to reduce civilian losses and damage to a minimum. These precautions include respect for the rule of proportionality. A military action is proportionate if it does not cause excessive loss of civilian life or damage to civilian objects in relation to the expected overall result. This rule cannot justify unlimited destruction or attacks against civilians and civilian objects as such.
In Volume 3 (Instruction for non-commissioned officers studying for the level 1 and 2 certificates and for future officers of the criminal police), the manual states: “The conduct of hostilities is subject to the following constraints: … the principle of proportionality requires that needless suffering and damage be avoided. It therefore prohibits any form of violence which is not indispensable for gaining superiority over an enemy.”
Also in Volume 3, the manual states: “The rule of proportionality must be respected at all times.”