A/HRC/45/55 characterized by attacks committed by armed groups against civilians, the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic and peacekeepers. This quarter also saw clashes between armed groups. This violence has led to the mass displacement of populations in different locations, thus exacerbating the humanitarian challenges in a context marked by the risk of the spread of COVID-19. Acts of violence are for the most part perpetrated by armed groups that are signatories to the Peace Agreement, such as Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique, Union pour la paix en Centrafrique, Mouvement des libérateurs centrafricains pour la justice and the antibalaka. This is a blatant violation of the Peace Agreement. Despite the oft-repeated commitment of the leaders of the armed groups to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement, it must be noted that, more than one year after the signing of the Agreement, armed groups and, to a certain extent, State services and officials, continue to commit acts that are contrary to its provisions. 84. The Central African Republic is heavily reliant on international funding, without which the country could not perform its functions, including those of a sovereign nature. The Independent Expert wishes to pay tribute to the generosity of the international community and to encourage technical and financial partners to continue and strengthen the support that they provide to the Central African Republic. 85. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the political and social situation in the country. The latter’s impact is likely to turn the health crisis into a food, humanitarian and social crisis if more is not done to support the informal sector, agricultural activities, access to drinking water and the restoration of basic social services destroyed by the conflict. The Government should avoid restricting individual and collective freedoms by applying what international law allows as time-bound exceptional measures regulated by law in order to deal with the pandemic. 86. Attacks and subversive acts committed by armed groups in spite of their commitments under the Peace Agreement, which were reiterated during the celebration of the first anniversary of its entry into force on 6 February 2020, should prompt its guarantors and facilitators, in consultation with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic, to consider taking stronger deterrent measures against them. In the absence of a response that is at least proportional to the capacity of armed groups to cause harm, these groups proceed to sow the seeds of ethnic conflict within the population, disrupt the deployment of State officials and services in the context of the restoration of State authority and maintain their parallel economy system by erecting road barriers and collecting illegal taxes. Armed groups have the potential to undermine the organization of future elections, given that they still occupy nearly three quarters of the territory of the Central African Republic. 87. The current political climate is tense and is not conducive to ensuring a peaceful electoral process that will result in the holding of transparent and free elections. This tension is partly attributable to the inertia of the inclusive dialogue and consultation framework designed to facilitate the discussion of differences and to restore trust between actors. It also carries the potential for violence before, during and after the elections, and subsequent human rights violations. All actors must refrain from advocating violence through their actions and speeches, and avoid manipulation and incitement to violence. 88. All national and international companies operating or wishing to operate in the Central African Republic, including in the field of natural resource exploitation, must comply with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and exercise reasonable human rights due diligence by implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework. GE.20-10998 15