A/HRC/24/40 82. On 20 March, after five weeks of pretrial detention, the regional court in Hargeisa found Rabi Youssuf Abdillahi, a prominent Somaliland traditional leader, guilty of high treason under article 212 of the Somali Penal Code and sentenced him to a two-year prison term. The Court retained the charge of high treason against Mr. Abdillahi due to his alleged participation in a number of conferences, meetings and political rallies with Somali authorities (including the Transitional Federal Government) in Mogadishu that the Court considered to be “illegal conferences against Somaliland’s sovereignty”. 83. Between November 2012 and July 2013, the Human Rights Unit has monitored several arrests of politicians, businessmen and community leaders who returned to Somaliland from Mogadishu. In most cases they were arrested and detained for a few days before being released without charges. Mr. Abdillahi was the first to be convicted for high treason. It raised serious concerns among members of civil society, who see these arrests as unlawful limitations on the rights to movement, to freedom of expression and to political participation. 84. The Government’s position on the arrests and detention of journalists, as explained to the United Nations, is that they are not made to muzzle the press but to apply the law against journalists who are mostly young and untrained and who regularly produce false and unethical reports. The Government has reiterated its decision to adopt a new media law, which is being developed by the Parliament. The arrest in April of another journalist, Yasiin Jama – upon the orders of the Governor – for allegedly reporting about irregularities in the exploration of oil and other natural resources in Somaliland is another example of the nervousness of the authorities on journalists and the media. The situation in Sool, Sanaag and Cayn 85. Simmering hostilities between Somaliland forces and “Khatumo” militia, reported last year, have continued. Local NGOs reported to the Human Rights Unit in Hargeisa that Somaliland military forces had arrested and detained at least six Khatumo militiamen on 22 January. According to first-hand witnesses, several injured militiamen were sent to Bohodle for medical treatment, including one who reportedly died as a result of his injuries. There were reportedly no civilian casualties. In the same month, judicial and custodial officers in Las Anod (Sool region) confirmed to the Human Rights Unit that a regional court had tried several prisoners held in the central prison of Las Anod who were accused of terrorism and killings that had taken place in Las Anod in 2012. The court found two of the accused guilty and convicted them to death, despite pleas from the United Nations not to impose the death penalty. Four others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to two years and one person accused of terrorism was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The court also ordered the release of 15 detainees. 86. The Independent Expert is seriously concerned about the continuing hostilities in this region and would urge that the United Nations and the international community keep the matter under constant watch and that efforts be made to come to a negotiated settlement. C. Establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia 87. Another important development during the reporting period was the closure of UNPOS and its replacement by UNSOM. The decision of the Security Council to establish UNSOM in Somalia is a welcome development. Equally important is the fact that the mandate of UNSOM will include supporting the Federal Government of Somalia and AMISOM as appropriate, by providing them with strategic policy advice on peacebuilding and state-building, including in the areas of security sector reform, rule of law (including police, justice and corrections), disengagement of combatants, disarmament, demobilization 16