A/HRC/7/26 Page 17 VII. FIELD VISITS A. Visit to Baidoa 68. The independent expert’s mission to Somalia included a planned and authorized visit to Baidoa on 17 September 2007 in order to meet with various officials of the TFIs. Unfortunately, that morning he was prevented from disembarking the plane on arrival in Baidoa and was obliged to return to Nairobi. Following this incident, he received numerous apologies from various members of the TFG and an undertaking that the incident would be investigated. While appreciating all the apologies and explanations received after this incident, the experience starkly highlighted for the independent expert the arbitrariness of decision-making by authorities and the deficiencies in institutional structures in Somalia. B. Visit to Mogadishu 69. On 20 September 2007, the independent expert met with President Abdullahi Yusuf. The President began by offering renewed apologies over the Baidoa incident stating that the independent expert was always welcome. The independent expert raised the issue of the negative environment for journalists and the media to which the President stated that some media organizations presented legitimate security concerns in that they were “hiding terrorists.” President Yusuf also noted that human rights reports were often mere allegations by human rights organizations which very often could not be corroborated or considered credible. 70. The independent expert also met with the (then) Prime Minister of the TFG, Ali Mohamed Gedi, in Mogadishu. The latter also apologized for the Baidoa incident and assured the independent expert that those responsible would be held accountable. The independent expert then briefed the Prime Minister on his previous reports and presentations to the Human Rights Council. 3 The independent expert raised several issues arising from his current mission with the Prime Minister, including reiterating his recommendation that the Somali Government sign and ratify all key international human rights instruments, as well as his opinion that the establishment of a national human rights commission would assist in addressing some of the pressing human rights challenges facing Somalia. He encouraged the TFG to request the assistance of the Human Rights Adviser deployed to the United Nations Country Team. The Prime Minister stated that the TFG remained committed to the idea of a national human rights institution and stressed that international assistance and support would be necessary in order to achieve this goal. 71. In a meeting with the Chair of the National Governance and Reconciliation Commission, Ali Mahdi, the independent expert was apprised of the outcomes of the National Reconciliation Congress. He learned that the Congress will be followed by discussions facilitated by participants within their communities in a parallel track to the constitution drafting process. 72. The independent expert also met with 15 members of the Hawiye Elders Council while in Mogadishu. The Elders expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of Ethiopian military and argued that their withdrawal presented the starting point for securing stability in Somalia. They also strongly condemned the fighting and conflicts of the past year, comparing the situation to 3 See A/HRC/5/2, A/HRC/2/CRP.2 and E/CN.4/2005/117.