Côte d’Ivoire
Practice Relating to Rule 10. Civilian Objects’ Loss of Protection from Attack
Section A. Civilian objects used for military purposes
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
…
Civilian buildings, vehicles, aircraft and ships are military objectives if they contain combatants, supplies or military material.
…
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.
…
Chapter 3. Protection
…
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.