A/HRC/36/64 19. The security situation in the capital, Bangui, continues to improve as a result of the actions of MINUSCA peacekeepers, who serve as a deterrent to potential troublemakers. Yet, despite the return of many displaced persons to the PK5 neighbourhood at the beginning of the year, particularly from the M’Poko airport site, the situation remains volatile. For example, the death on 7 February 2017 of Youssouf Malinga, also known as “Big man”, in this neighbourhood led to a wave of reprisals, including murders and the burning of houses. 20. Virtually no progress has been made in implementing the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation programme or in reforming the security sector. An advisory and monitoring committee on disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation has been established and meets regularly in the presence of representatives of the armed groups. However, the latter appear to be participating in order to ensure that they have a place in the programme without making any real commitment on the ground to ending the violence in the areas under their control. 21. The Independent Expert welcomes the efforts made by the European Union in the training, accreditation and certification of the Central African Armed Forces. Of the three battalions expected to be trained by 2018, 600 soldiers have already completed training. Given the situation of violence, a majority of the members of civil society and certain representatives of the authorities with whom meetings were held requested that the embargo be lifted in order to provide the army with equipment and weapons. The Independent Expert was informed that the Central African Republic could obtain a dispensation from the arms embargo in order to equip its forces and that the Government had approached the international community with a view to requesting help from other partners in accelerating the training and providing equipment and other logistical resources to the new Central African army. The Government has also undertaken the recruitment, through a joint committee composed of representatives of the State and MINUSCA, of 500 police officers and gendarmes. 22. The Independent Expert has observed delays in the restoration of State authority outside Bangui. The security situation is such that State officials are discouraged from expanding operations to certain regions under the control of armed groups. This is particularly true in the east, where there is only one gendarme in Zémio and in Mboki, and none in the sub-prefecture of Bambouti. At the end of June 2017, armed groups appeared to hold sway over 12 of the 16 prefectures, representing nearly 70 per cent of the national territory. B. Political context and mediation efforts 23. The escalation in violence in September 2016 undermined the Government’s efforts to restore the authority of the State, as well as regional and national initiatives in favour of peace. 24. With the support of its partners, the Government had, however, made significant progress in developing a legislative and institutional framework, including the adoption of organic laws, accession to international human rights conventions, the adoption of a recovery plan and the appointment of the Prosecutor of the Special Criminal Court. 25. The National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan, which was developed by the Government in partnership with the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank, was approved by the National Assembly on 26 October 2016. It is based on the following three pillars: support for peace, security and reconciliation; renewal of the social contract between the State and the people; and economic recovery and revitalization of the productive sectors. 26. The donor conference held on 17 November 2016 in Brussels demonstrated the willingness of the international community to assist the Central African Republic through pledges totalling $2.2 billion to finance the National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan for three years. The actual disbursement of these pledges has, however, been slow to materialize. GE.17-12914 5