U.S. Africa Command Civilian Harm Assessment Report

In the latest quarterly civilian harm assessment report period ending September 30, 2024, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report of civilian harm and had one open report carried over from previous quarters. 

This is the 19th quarterly assessment report since the command began releasing civilian casualty reports in April 2020. These reports are part of the command’s commitment to transparency and accountability. 

U.S. Africa Command takes all reports of possible civilian harm seriously and has a process to conduct thorough reviews and assessments using all available information. The command remains committed to reviewing and assessing any reports of civilian harm.

Publication of Department of Defense Instruction 3000.17 “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response”

The Department of Defense published the Department of Defense Instruction 3000.17 “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response” on Dec. 21, 2023. This instruction requires combatant commands to publish reports at least quarterly on the command’s unclassified, publicly accessible website that provide information on the status and results of reviews, assessments, and investigations relating to civilian harm. U.S. Africa Command reviews and assesses all information related to civilian harm and publishes quarterly reports in accordance with this guidance. 

Discrepancies between U.S. Africa Command Civilian Harm Assessment Report and Non-Governmental Organization Reports

U.S. Africa Command civilian harm assessment reports occasionally differ from other organizations’ reports, including non-governmental organizations, for a number of reasons. The command’s reviews rely on a variety of sources, including open source information and information from reliable and multi-layered intelligence sources, as well as classified operational reporting, some of which is not accessible to the public. This can contribute to perceived discrepancies between the command’s assessments and those of others.

Definition of “civilian” and “combatant”

When assessing reports of civilian harm, DoD considers whether any members of the civilian population were wounded or killed as a direct result of U.S. military operations. For the purposes of such assessments, DoD does not include members of the civilian population who have forfeited the protections of civilian status by engaging in hostilities. Information about different classes of persons under the law of war, including "civilians" and "combatants," can be found in Chapter IV of the DoD Law of War Manual (June 2015, Updated December 2023), which is available at: https://ogc.osd.mil/Portals/99/Law%20of%20War%202023/DOD-LAW-OF-WAR-MANUAL-JUNE-2015-UPDATED-JULY%202023.pdf?ver=Qbxamfouw4znu1I7DVMcsw%3d%3d 

U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report Summary of Results

It is U.S. Africa Command’s policy to reevaluate reports of civilian harm should  previously unassessed relevant information become available and a review of the new information indicates it could change the previously approved results or if other issues emerge that cast significant doubts on the accuracy of the previously approved assessment’s results. Absent new information, the below assessments are final and complete.

Open Assessments

U.S. Africa Command had two open assessments during this quarter. Information on those assessments will be included in the quarterly report following completion of the assessment.