Côte d’Ivoire
Practice Relating to Rule 46. Orders or Threats That No Quarter Will Be Given
Côte d’Ivoire’s Teaching Manual (2007) provides in Book IV (Instruction of heads of division and company commanders):
Chapter 3. Protection
…
I.2.4. Enemy hors de combat
…
It is prohibited to order that there shall be no survivors, to threaten an adversary therewith or to conduct hostilities on this basis. Consequently, a person who clearly expresses an intention to surrender, in whatever way, must not be made the object of attack.
…
Chapter 4. Methods and means of warfare
…
I.2.4. “Denial/no quarter”
It is prohibited not to give quarter. In other words, it is not lawful to order or to make understood that one will take no prisoners, to threaten an adversary with such an order, or to conduct hostilities on the basis of the principle that no prisoners will be taken.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Penal Code (1981), as amended in 2015, states:
Article 139
Whoever commits a war crime is punished with life imprisonment.
War crimes are:
…
2 - other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts:
…
- declaring that no quarter will be given;
…
…
4 - other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflicts not of an international character, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts:
…
- declaring that no quarter will be given;
…
Article 139-1
The provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 of the above article 139 do not apply to situations of internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence or other acts of a similar nature.