A/HRC/39/72 C. Economy 5. The economy of Somalia continued to improve and attracted positive assessments from international financial institutions. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), between 2012 and 2016, Somalia recorded moderate growth, averaging about 3.4 per cent. In 2017, real growth in gross domestic product slowed to an estimated 2.4 per cent, due mainly to the drought, but it is projected to recover to 3.5 per cent in 2018 and 2019. The main drivers in 2017 were construction, telecommunications and financial services. The diaspora played a major role by investing funds from abroad and returning with critical skills. Projected growth in 2018 and 2019 is expected to be driven by the recovery of agriculture and higher private sector investment. Inflation is expected to remain around 2.7 per cent in 2018 and 2019. 6. AfDB noted that key economic achievements included drafting the first National Development Plan for the period 2017–2019, which articulated economic reconstruction and development priorities. Continued political stability and the improved security situation has enabled the country to focus on its implementation. Development programmes are being implemented to revive the social economic sectors, such as the education sector, and initial achievements have included the enrolment of more children in formal primary education.1 D. Challenges 7. Despite the progress made, Somalia continues to face security, political and economic challenges that have an impact on the human rights situation in 2018. Terrorism remains the major threat to peace and stability in the country. Al-Shabaab has continued its attacks on the civilian population, public officials and institutions, the Somalia security forces and the AMISOM contingents. On 14 October 2017, Somalia suffered the biggest terrorist bomb attack in Mogadishu, in which an estimated 800 people were killed. The continuing conflict with its high cost on civilian lives and insecurity continues to make headlines. 8. Drought ravaged Somalia for most of 2017. Internally displaced persons in and around Mogadishu were forcefully evicted from their settlements in December 2017. Floods in April and May 2018 affected large parts of the Shabelle river valley and Mogadishu. The number of internally displaced persons increased from 1.1 million to 2.1 million, due to conflict and climatic conditions, which had a negative impact on their right to shelter, a safe and healthy environment and other associated social and economic rights, in particular nutrition and health needs. II. Mission to Somalia 9. The Independent Expert conducted his fifth mission to Somalia from 25 April to 4 May 2018.2 Prior to the mission, he had conducted week-long consultations in Geneva and Nairobi and had met with members of the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, representatives of international humanitarian organizations and civil society organizations working in Somalia. He briefed them on the human rights situation and humanitarian issues that would require his follow-up during the mission. 10. He discussed with the President of the Council the problem of lack of capacity in Somalia, the need to support post-conflict States such as Somalia in the implementation of Human Rights Council resolutions, and the need for the Council to consider practical ways on how recommendations addressed to post-conflict States could be implemented. 1 2 More than 2,507,430 children aged 6–11 years enrolled for the primary school year from October 2017 to June 2018. Previous missions took place in December 2014, May 2015, April 2016 and May 2017. 5