Côte d’Ivoire
Practice Relating to Rule 10. Civilian Objects’ Loss of Protection from Attack
Côte d’Ivoire’s Teaching Manual (2007) notes in Book I (Basic instruction): “Every civilian object occupied by combatants becomes a military objective.”
In Book III, Volume 1 (Instruction of first-year trainee officers), the Teaching Manual provides:
III.1. Civilian objects
By civilian objects, one means all objects which are not military objectives. …
One can cite as examples of civilian objects:
- buildings and installations used by civilians, as long as they are not used for military purposes …
…
In all cases, the essential question is to know what use is made of the object in question.
In Book III, Volume 2 (Instruction of second-year trainee officers), the Teaching Manual provides: “Depending on the situation, a normally civilian object can become a military objective. Example: a house or bridge tactically used by the belligerents becomes a military objective.”
In Book IV (Instruction of heads of division and company commanders), the Teaching Manual provides:
Chapter 2. Combatants and objectives
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Civilian buildings, vehicles, aircraft and ships are military objectives if they contain combatants, supplies or military material.
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The following objects can, depending on the circumstances, constitute military objectives:
- military supply transport systems;
- transportation centres where lines of communication converge;
- marshalling yards;
- industrial installations producing material for the armed forces;
- electrical power stations;
- fuel storage centres.
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Chapter 3. Protection
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II.1.2. Civilian object used for military purposes
If a civilian object is used for military purposes it loses the protection which it enjoyed as a civilian object and can become a legitimate objective.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Teaching Manual (2007) provides in Book III, Volume 1 (Instruction of first-year trainee officers):
III.1. Civilian objects
By civilian objects, one means all objects which are not military objectives. …
…
In all cases, the essential question is to know what use is being made of the object in question. In case of doubt, each object, until the contrary is proven, must be regarded as a civilian object.
In Book IV (Instruction of heads of division and company commanders), the Teaching Manual provides: “In case of doubt, an object which is normally designated to civilian purposes keeps its civilian character.”