A/HRC/18/48 2011, nine members of the Puntland electoral commission were sworn into office. The commission will be responsible for preparing the necessary electoral legislation, organizing a referendum on the Constitution, the creation of political parties and conducting municipal elections. IX. Human rights situation in the regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn 63. The regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn lie at the border between Somaliland and Puntland and have been the object of a territorial dispute between the two administrations for the past 20 years. Puntland claims these two regions on basis of clan affiliation; Somaliland claims them on the basis of pre-independence colonial borders. 64. Reports of fighting between the Somaliland army and the Sool Sanaag Caynabo militia, at times backed by the Puntland army, are common. In February 2011, for example, there was heavy fighting in the Buuhoodle area, the combined effect of which, together with the drought throughout Somalia, was the displacement of nomadic populations from the area in anticipation of the fighting. There were no reports of civilian casualties as a result of the fighting, but this account is disputed by Sool Sanaag Caynabo sympathizers. The dispute over the regions is also conducted through political violence, as assassinations or attempted assassinations of Somaliland officials in Las Anod have been numerous, targeting police and judicial officials in particular. Such acts are often followed by a spate of arbitrary or unlawful arrests and detentions by the Somaliland administration. 65. The fact that the Sool and Sanaag regions are believed to hold significant oil deposits and that contracts for oil exploration have already been signed by Puntland is likely to fuel the conflict between the two administrations. X. Situation in Gulmudug State 66. During his visit to the region in February 2011, the independent expert met with the Gulmudug authorities in South Galkayo. The Speaker of Parliament, representing the President of Gulmudug and members of the cabinet, briefed the independent expert at length and focused on the drought and the situation of internally displaced persons. The Speaker drew the independent expert’s attention to the devastating effects of the drought on the people and livestock of the region. He claimed that about a million livestock were already dead. If the drought continued, many human lives would also be lost soon. He added that there were 25,000 internally displaced persons living in 23 camps in South Galkayo. According to the Speaker, security standards were fair, but livelihoods were suffering. The Government required more assistance from the United Nations to protect and promote the rights of internally displaced persons, especially economic, social and cultural rights. He also connected the phenomenon of piracy to poverty in Gulmudug and lack of economic opportunities, explaining the need for income generation and development intervention in the region. XI. Situation in Somalia 67. Since his appointment in May 2008, the independent expert has made seven visits to Somalia and the region. A constant feature of his reports submitted to the Human Rights Council on the visits has been his frustration that, despite the efforts made over the years, no end to the Somali crisis was in sight. Because of the complex, prolonged nature of the conflict, the situation has see-sawed between progress and regress. 13