Central African Republic
Practice Relating to Rule 15. The Principle of Precautions in Attack
The Central African Republic’s Instructor’s Manual (1999) states 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 main aim of the precautions taken when planning military operations is to avoid civilian losses and damage … Precautions must be taken with respect to on-going military operations and to the movements and halts of the armed forces.”
In Volume 3, the manual also states in the section on conduct of operations: “Care must be taken at all times to spare the civilian population and civilian objects.”
The Central African Republic’s Instructor’s Manual (1999) states 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 main aim of the precautions taken when planning military operations is to avoid civilian losses and damage and, if these are inevitable, to minimize them as far as possible.”
In Volume 3, the manual also states: “The timing and direction of an attack must be chosen in such a way as to minimize civilian losses and civilian damage.”
In Volume 3, the manual further states: “When a choice is possible between several defence positions for obtaining an equivalent military advantage, the position to be selected must be that which would present the least danger to civilian persons and objects.”
In Volume 3, the manual also states: “Military units located in or close to populated areas must be so deployed as to create the least possible danger to civilian areas.”
The Central African Republic’s Instructor’s Manual (1999) states in Volume 3 (Instruction for non-commissioned officers studying for the level 1 and 2 certificates and for future officers of the criminal police):
To accomplish his mission a military commander needs appropriate intelligence on the enemy and the environment.
To be able to comply with the law of war, intelligence must comprise the following information:
- concentrations of civilian persons;
- the civilian environment;
- types of built-up areas (towns, villages, shelters, etc.);
- the presence and type of major civilian objects, in particular specially protected objects;
- the natural environment.
Also in Volume 3, the manual states: “Military commanders must inform themselves about concentrations of civilians, important civilian objects and specially protected facilities, the natural environment and the civilian environment of military objectives.”