Cameroon
Practice Relating to Rule 7. The Principle of Distinction between Civilian Objects and Military Objectives
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992)
provides: “At all times, a clear distinction must be made between combatants, personnel military objectives and civilian objects.”
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006), under the heading “Command Responsibility”, states: “In all circumstances, a distinction must be made between … military objectives … and civilian objects (civilian objects being defined as all objects that are not military objectives) in order to avoid collateral damage.”
The manual further states:
It must be emphasized that [a responsibility of] command regarding the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law is to:
…
- respect the principle of discrimination; that is to say, to make a distinction between … military objectives and civilian objects as well as protected objects (medical installations, cultural objects, …).
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) provides: “It is self-evident that, after identification, bombardment cannot target but military objectives …”.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006) states:
Armed Operations at Sea
…
Rules on Bombardment by Naval Forces
[Naval] bombardment may only target a military objective.
The manual further states:
Armed Operations in the Air
…
1. Conduct between Belligerents
…
Distinction military aircraft – civilian aircraft
Every opening of fire must be preceded by an identification of the aircraft … Consequently, attacks must only be directed against enemy military aircraft.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) provides: “Throughout all military operations, both in the attack as in defence, some behaviour is forbidden and remains contrary to the laws of war. Example: … to bomb and destroy civilian objects”.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006), under the heading “Civilian Victims of Armed Conflict”, lists “bombarding and destroying civilian objects” as an example of “conduct that is prohibited and remains contrary to the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law during all military operations, whether in offence or in defence”.
Under the same heading, the manual also provides that “civilian objects must benefit from both special and general protection”.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) prohibits the bombardment of residential areas.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006) states:
Civilian Victims of Armed Conflict
During all military operations, whether in offence or in defence, certain conduct remains prohibited under the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law.
Examples:
- conducting bombardments of residential areas.
Under the same heading, the manual also states that “residential areas must be protected”.
According to Cameroon’s Disciplinary Regulations (1975), it is prohibited to attack “the crew and passengers of civil aircraft”.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) states: “Belligerents must … distinguish between military and civilian aircraft … As a result, only enemy military aircraft may be attacked; civilian, private or commercial aircraft may only be intercepted.”
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006) states in a section on “Armed Operations in the Air”:
“During hostilities, belligerents must ensure a distinction between military and civilian aircraft.”