Nigeria
Practice relating to Rule 66. Non-Hostile Contacts between the Parties to the Conflict
Nigeria’s Manual on the Laws of War states: “The conduct of war and the wish to restore peace sometimes require intercourse between the belligerents.”
Nigeria’s Manual on the Laws of War notes:
The hoisting of a white flag means that a belligerent wishes to communicate with the enemy, either for the purpose of surrender or for some other purposes. Hoisting the white flag by a small number of soldiers usually [expresses] the wish to surrender; in the case of a large unit it is usually the expression of a wish to conduct negotiations.
Nigeria’s Manual on the Laws of War states: “The usual agents in non-hostile intercourse between belligerents are known as parlementaires. The parlementaires must carry a white flag … [and] an authorisation in writing signed by the sending commander.”
Nigeria’s Manual on the Laws of War provides: “The force commander (of the other side) is not obliged to receive the parlementaire.”