A/HRC/21/36 led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and ensured that human rights and justice were kept on the national and international agendas. 12. The Transitional Federal Government, with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other neighbouring forces (namely Kenya and Ethiopia), recaptured Mogadishu in 2011 and has gradually established authority around the capital as well as areas bordering Kenya and Ethiopia. Nevertheless, a large part of southern and central Somalia remains under the control of the armed group, Al-Shabaab, and has witnessed grave human rights violations, including summary executions and torture (particularly of persons accused of spying for the Government), arbitrary arrest and detention, forced conscription and the recruitment of child soldiers, forced marriages and limitations to freedom of movement and assembly. Al-Shabaab has also been reported to prevent people, particularly boys and young men, from fleeing the areas under its control. 13. While there has been a significant improvement in the security situation in the areas controlled by the Transitional Federal Government, there have been disturbing reports of incidents in which civilians have been killed or injured in shooting incidents among different units of the Government in Mogadishu or by excessive use of force at checkpoints. Pro-Government militias have allegedly committed seven summary executions of civilians in towns recently recaptured by the Ethiopian defence forces. There have also been reports of torture and arbitrary arrest and detention, including large-scale round-up operations in response to Al-Shabaab attacks, and detention and torture of individuals alleged or perceived to support Al-Shabaab. Civilians have also been wounded or killed by improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings, the responsibility of which was claimed by Al-Shabaab. 14. Compared with southern and -central Somalia, “Somaliland” and “Puntland”, which are governed by regional State administrations, have both enjoyed relative stability. Armed conflict has, however, characterized the disputed border region between “Somaliland” and “Puntland”. Besides the impact of the armed conflict between “Somaliland” security forces and the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn militias on the civilian population, the dispute over the regions has also caused significant political violence, which has resulted in the assassination of a number of senior Government officials and members of the judiciary. Reports of cases of unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention of persons suspected of association with pro-“Puntland” militias were received following these assassinations. It is hoped that the agreement reached between the President of “Somaliland” State and the Sool, Sannag and Cayn leader in Dubai on 27 June 2012 will end human rights violations resulting from the conflict in the region. 15. In 2011, Somalia was at the epicentre of the severe food crisis in the Horn of Africa, the result of drought, rising food prices and the conflict. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has estimated that 2.1 million Somalis are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance owing to the food insecurity caused by poor seasonal rainfall. Almost 40 per cent of the country’s estimated 9 million population live in extreme poverty and insecurity caused by the long-standing conflict, a situation that has diminished the people’s capacity to maintain their own food and nutrition security and their resilience against shocks. 16. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the life expectancy in Somalia is 51 years. Cholera and malaria are the leading causes of mortality. Less than 30 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water. Outbreaks of cholera in the urban areas and in the densely populated camps for the internally displaced have been exacerbated by a combination of malnutrition and prevalent communicable diseases. 17. Somalia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Years of conflict have resulted in the destruction of virtually all basic facilities, such as referral 5