A/HRC/39/70 II. General situation in the country A. Security situation 9. The outbreaks of violence and clashes since July 2017 have returned the Central African Republic to serious crisis with dramatic consequences for the civilian population, humanitarian workers and United Nations peacekeepers. The proliferation of areas of tension in the centre of the country, the recent violence in Bangui and the uncertain situation in localities such as Bangassou and Paoua are evidence of a steady undermining of the authority of the State by armed groups, particularly the ex-Séléka and anti-Balaka. 10. The most serious abuses include the following events. In late July 2017, anti-Balaka elements attacked the compound of the cathedral of Bangassou (south), which shelters displaced persons. In August, clashes between armed groups, including anti-Balaka elements and elements of the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC) in Alindao (southeast), and anti-Balaka elements and elements of the Front Populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC) in Bria (centre), affected the protection of civilians. On 23 September, elements of the armed group Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation (3R) used violence against civilians in Bocaranga (north-west). In October, conflict in Pombolo and Kembé (south-east) resulted in the death of several civilians. 11. On 12 December, UPC and FPRC fighters surrounded the hospital of Ippy (centre) and opened fire on civilian staff and patients, killing 12 men, one woman, three children and a baby. 12. In late December, violence between the groups Révolution et justice, under the leadership of Armel Ningatoloum Sayo, and the Mouvement national pour la libération de la Centrafrique, under the command of Mahamat Bahar, led to the destabilization of several localities around Paoua (north-west) and the displacement of 60,000 persons. 13. On 21 March 2018, there were clashes between anti-Balakas and UPC elements in Tagbara (centre). On 3 April, anti-Balakas targeted the MINUSCA base and killed a peacekeeper, while a UPC attack on the displaced persons compound caused 23 deaths, including of three children and four women. 14. On 8 April, a joint operation by the internal security forces, the Central African armed forces and MINUSCA took place in Bangui to arrest members of criminal gangs from the PK5 neighbourhood. This operation, codenamed “Sukula”, provoked reactions against the MINUSCA forces, causing 31 deaths and 145 wounded, including many civilians. 15. On 1 May in the PK5 neighbourhood, 22 were killed and another 185 wounded after an armed group led by Nimery Matar Jamous, the “Force”, stirred up violence in response to an attempt by the Central African authorities to arrest one of their members. Houses, hospitals, churches and mosques were targeted in a cowardly manner in Bangui, including the church of Fatima and the Lakouanga mosque. 16. On 30 May, UPC elements attacked the gendarmerie of Bambari and looted several homes, the cathedral and the court. In the space of one month, the premises of nine humanitarian organizations were looted in Bambari. 17. Despite this situation reflecting the resistance of the armed groups to turning towards peace, the Independent Expert noted progress in the security sector, in particular the gradual redeployment of the Central African armed forces alongside United Nations peacekeepers in Sibut, Paoua, Obo, Bangassou and, probably, Bouar. She also noted the end of the pilot project on disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation, which enrolled 450 persons, but has yet to have any consequences. 18. The Independent Expert also noted the positive outcome of the vetting process, which enabled the selection, training and deployment of three battalions of the Central African armed forces and the current training of 500 police officers and gendarmes. 4 GE.18-13342