A/HRC/18/48 20. Following the announcement of the Accord, demonstrations were held in Mogadishu against the President, the Speaker and the facilitators of the Accord, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, which lasted for two days, during which at least three demonstrators died. 21. Subsequently, a new Prime Minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, was endorsed by Parliament on 28 June with an overwhelming majority. His nomination was also positively received by most key players. A new Cabinet was endorsed by Parliament on 23 July, with 397 votes in favour. The 18-member Cabinet consists of all new appointees, chosen on the basis of the 4.5 formula and includes representatives from Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a. IV. Military advances and developments in the security sector 22. In Mogadishu, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Transitional Federal Government forces maintained the significant gains made in early 2011, and further increased their area of control to include Bakara Market in May. The forces now fully control eight districts in Mogadishu. This has led to a significant improvement in the security situation. 23. Al-Shabaab appears to have been weakened by rumours that senior leaders colluded in the killing of a senior commander and al-Qaida representative at a roadblock in Mogadishu, on 8 June. It appears to have been further weakened by the loss of senior officials and by drone strikes near Kismaayo in June and July. Continuing recruitment and taxation by the group suggest its capabilities have been reduced by fighting on several fronts. Occasional clan attacks against Al-Shabaab suggest growing opposition. 24. Consequently, Al-Shabaab has increased its use of asymmetric warfare tactics against AMISOM and Transitional Federal Government TFG forces, including suicide bombings against a military position on 30 May, the seaport on 9 June, and the assassination of the Minister of the Interior and National Security, Abdishakur Sheik Hassan, on 10 June, by his own niece. 25. Since the signing of the Djibouti Agreement in 2008, the international community has provided assistance to the Transitional Federal Government to develop security and justice sector institutions. The Joint Security Committee and its working groups continue to strengthen the security coordination structures established within the Office of the President and the Prime Minister. 26. The Transitional Federal Government military has reached the estimated strength of 10,000 men; its police have reached 7,000. However, there are concerns that the Transitional Federal Institutions remain under-supported in some key security areas and that additional funds are necessary to make basic security a priority. At the same time, lack of effective command and control structures and poor discipline among some Transitional Federal Government troops are a serious concern and have resulted in recurring violence. 27. One trend of significant military and political significance that has emerged over the past month is the desertion of Al-Shabaab fighters. Some deserters are re-absorbed into communities, while others, estimated to be about 130, have surrendered to AMISOM/Transitional Federal Government forces and are currently accommodated in National Security Authorities facilities. In his talks with the Prime Minister, the independent expert encouraged the Transitional Federal Government, to develop, with United Nations support, the legislative and policy provisions necessary to cater for such and similar other persons. 6