A/HRC/42/42/Add.1 international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law. 86. The Multinational Joint Task Force continued to focus on the conflict around the Lake Chad region. With around 10,000 uniformed personnel, the Task Force continues to play a key role in counter-attacks against Boko Haram. The Task Force has a human rights unit in its civilian component that has been employed to deal with human rights issues within the operations in which it has been involved. In addition to the general headquarters in Chad, the Task Force has sectoral headquarters in Mora, Cameroon; Bagasola, Chad; Diffa, Niger; and Baga, Nigeria. 87. Both the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force rely heavily on financial contributions from member States to keep them fully operational, and this could be a challenge. The African Union-led Nouakchott Process, of which Chad is a part, focuses on enhanced cooperation among member States’ security apparatuses. Chad has also joined the international counter-ISIL coalition. 88. In terms of prosecutions and combating impunity, Chad has ratified the Convention on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance in Counter-terrorism. On May 2017, Chad, Mali and the Niger signed a tripartite agreement to strengthen judicial cooperation, enabling each of the countries to arrest and prosecute nationals from any of the signatory countries. The implementation of these initiatives can go a long way in supporting investigations and prosecutions for transnational and cross-border crimes, including those involving mercenaries and foreign fighters. The agreement facilitates, inter alia, requests for mutual legal assistance. The Working Group is not aware of the extent to which the agreement has been applied in relation to cases involving foreign armed actors in Chad. The Penal Code provides for extradition of accused persons or criminals. These frameworks are important to ensuring the necessary cooperation and exchange of information relating to the investigation of mercenary or foreign fighter activities. 89. The Government has also devoted resources to border management. It increased screenings at border crossings to try to prevent infiltration by members of Boko Haram and by militias from the Central African Republic, as well as the transit of illegal arms, drugs, weapons and other contraband into the country. A biometric system was introduced by Chad in 2013 for screening at selected entry points, such as airports. However, the Working Group was informed that much more still needed to be done to counter the transborder movements of arms, drugs and persons and the infiltration of mercenaries and foreign armed elements. The vast, remote desert areas continue to provide potential routes for these criminal activities, as effective border management is difficult to implement in those territories. 90. Chad has a police force of around 12,000 officers to cover its 23 regions. There are also around 7,000 nomadic guards who assist with national security. Many have noted that this is not sufficient in the long term to protect against threats of armed groups and attacks, hence the dependence on regional and international military deployments to maintain security. The Working Group was informed of the threats against transhumant pastoralists moving through Chadian territory in search of water and grazing ground for herds. Intercommunal violence and tension and competition for natural resources have affected relationships between farmers and pastoralists, resulting in violent clashes. Pastoralists are now arming themselves and have also been known to deliberately engage in violence against local communities, and vice versa. Countering violent extremism 91. In 2017 the Government adopted a national strategy and action plan to counter violent extremism and radicalization. Its Vision 2030 plan also noted the need to address those issues in order to strengthen national cohesion. The Office of Religious and Traditional Leaders, within the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Local Governance, was created by the Government to initiate efforts to counter violent extremism. However, the Office has yet to effectively drive the necessary programmes, and more support from international partners is needed. Interlocutors consistently identified the primary driver of violent extremism as lack of economic opportunity, which was exploited by violent extremists who targeted vulnerable populations. 14