A/HRC/45/55 continued to occur. Progress has been made in relation to priorities such as implementation mechanisms, the regulatory framework, efforts to combat impunity, local reconciliation mechanisms and preparations for the presidential election. However, despite these advances, the persistent lack of good faith of the signatories, particularly the three main exSéléka armed groups, the group known as Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation and the antibalaka groups; the minimal commitment from certain State actors, particularly the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic; and sensitive issues such as transitional security and justice mechanisms have contributed to the delays reported. 24. The deadline for concluding the disarmament and demobilization process set by the national authorities at the end of January 2020 was not met. However, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation operations resumed in the west of the country, even though some armed groups continued to engage in unlawful activities. The Independent Expert was informed that the 253 ex-combatants who had been disarmed, demobilized and selected to join the special joint security units in the north-western defence zone completed their training in Bouar on 16 December 2019, along with 266 members of the internal security forces. The unit is not yet operational. 25. The Peace Agreement monitoring bodies5 need to be consolidated in order to achieve the expected results. Despite their commitments under the Agreement, the armed groups that are signatories thereto have committed multiple violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 26. The Independent Expert is deeply concerned about clashes between armed groups that have escalated into inter-community conflicts, particularly those that occurred in Bria in January 2020 between the Rounga, Kara and Goula communities, and those that occurred in Ndelé in March and April 2020 between the two main ethnic groups of the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (ex-Séléka). 27. On 18 March 2020, 16 local factions in Bria, including representatives of armed groups and tribal leaders, signed a ceasefire protocol under the auspices of the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique. The protocol includes provisions on the return of combatants to their bases, freedom of movement of persons and goods, the setting up of a joint unit to coordinate the implementation of the ceasefire, and the establishment of an implementation committee, of which the leader of the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique, Ali Darassa, is the guarantor. The break-up of the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique along Rounga and Goula ethnic lines has hampered the implementation of the protocol. 28. An agreement concluded on 30 July 2020 between the Government, the guarantors and facilitators of the Peace Agreement and Ali Darassa stated that the latter would undertake, inter alia, not to hinder the deployment of State authority in all its forms, to create the conditions necessary to launch the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation process with the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique, to refrain from carrying out any act that would normally fall under the sovereign jurisdiction of the Government, and to support the electoral process by ensuring the free movement of the officials of the National Electoral Authority and various actors.6 The Independent Expert recalls that the Peace Agreement expressly provides that no actor is to enjoy impunity. 29. By resolution 2536 (2020), the Security Council extended the arms embargo until 31 July 2021. C. Security context 30. The security situation has improved somewhat but remains tenuous. This situation impacts, inter alia, the normal conduct of agricultural and school activities, compliance with the protection measures related to COVID-19, access to water sources, the free movement 5 6 6 These include the special joint security units, the national implementation committee, the prefectural implementation committees and the executive monitoring committee. Minutes of the closed meeting between the Government, the guarantors, the facilitators and Ali Darassa, No. 0161/PM/DIRCAB.20 of 30 July 2020. GE.20-10998