A/HRC/21/61 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 22 August 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-first session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari Summary Somalia has reached a critical juncture in its tortuous history of the past two decades. After enduring one of the most painful humanitarian crises during this period, the country is now poised to turn a new page. It is hoped that, by the time the present report is submitted to the Human Rights Council, the road map to end the transition from a dark past to a brighter future in Somalia will culminate in the inauguration of a new, elected Government in Mogadishu. In the present report, the Independent Experts seeks to describe the developments in the military, political and diplomatic spheres over the past one year, as well as the humanitarian and human rights situation in Somalia. He concludes the report with recommendations for the Government of Somalia, both present and future, and for the international community, to take advantage good use of the gains made through the combined efforts of all the stakeholders to create a new Somalia, where there is rule of law and respect for human rights for all. GE.12-16124