Cameroon
Practice Relating to Rule 1. The Principle of Distinction between Civilians and Combatants
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) requires “respect for the principle of distinction, that is to say, the definition and separation of soldiers and civilians”.
The manual further states: “A soldier cannot fight without knowing exactly who is a combatant and who is not.”
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006) states: “The soldier in combat must distinguish between combatant and non-combatant.”
The manual also states in its section on command responsibility:
It must be emphasized that [a responsibility of] command regarding the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law is to:
…
- ensure respect for the principle of discrimination; that is to say to make a distinction between combatants and civilians as well as protected persons (prisoners of war, the wounded, medical personnel).
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (1992) requires that the civilian population be protected and respected during military operations.
Cameroon’s Instructor’s Manual (2006), under the heading “Civilian Victims of Armed Conflicts”, stipulates that “[the civilian] population must be protected”.
The manual also states that “an attack against the civilian population or civilian persons” constitutes a grave breach of IHL.