A/HRC/45/55 view, the former President, François Bozizé, had been the target of the arrests of 3 April. The political climate deteriorated in the wake of these arrests. 16. On 7 July 2020, the National Assembly adopted, during a special session, the Act on the composition, organization and operation of the National Electoral Authority, pursuant to Decree No. 20182 of 20 May 2020, establishing the time frame for drawing up the electoral list, which was itself adopted pursuant to Act No. 19-0011 of 20 August 2019 on the Electoral Code of the Central African Republic. In addition, decision No. 0047/ANE/P/VP/RG/20 of 24 April 2020 on the appointment of the members of the departments making up the National Electoral Authority contributes to the roll-out of the electoral framework throughout the country. 17. After several postponements, voter census and registration activities began at the end of June 2020 and were also carried out in consulates located in countries where Central Africans, including refugees, reside. In the view of the Independent Expert, the National Electoral Authority has a duty to ensure the transparency of voter census and registration activities in order to dispel, as of now, any suspicion of fraud or of real or presumed shortcomings, and to ensure that the scope of its activities covers the entire national territory. 18. On 25 July 2020, François Bozizé announced his candidacy for the December 2020 presidential election on behalf of his Kwa Na Kwa party. In accordance with Security Council resolution 2134 (2014), on 9 May 2014, the former Head of State was placed on the sanctions list of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic.3 19. The first round of the presidential election is set to take place on 27 December 2020, in accordance with the established constitutional time frame. The Independent Expert is of the opinion that the continued consolidation of the peace process, the stabilization of the country and the effective return to a context that is more conducive to respect for human rights are contingent upon the electoral calendar being respected, the elections being free, transparent and inclusive, and the relevant actors’ accepting the final results. 20. On 5 June 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled against 4 the draft constitutional amendment aimed at “shifting the electoral calendar”. Senior judges have called for a “national consultation”, which must be organized by the executive branch. As stressed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the holding of elections within the established constitutional time frame is a goal that must be achieved. Delaying the electoral timetable without first holding a national consultation could lead to unrest and threaten public order, and give rise to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 21. The Independent Expert is concerned that the situation is marked by social and political tension and that political dialogue is slow to materialize. Against this electoral backdrop, it is imperative that inclusive dialogue be resumed in order to restore the confidence of the different actors, in a peaceful move towards free and transparent elections in December 2020. 2. Peace process 22. The Independent Expert views the Peace Agreement as the consensual and operational framework for peacebuilding and the country’s stabilization. He therefore advocates working to consolidate the results achieved by strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the measures taken and by accelerating efforts in this area in order to multiply the benefits for the population. 23. One year after the signing of the Peace Agreement, violence has decreased overall, although intermittent but serious incidents of violence and human rights violations have 3 4 GE.20-10998 Security Council resolution 2134 (2014), para. 36. See also Security Council resolution 2127 (2013), para. 59 (d), and S/2018/729, para. 25. Opinion No. 015/CC/20 of 5 June 2020 on the revision of certain constitutional provisions of 30 March 2016. 5