A/HRC/12/44 page 7 C. Visit to Hargeisa, Somaliland 17. When arriving in Hargeisa, Somaliland, it is easy to forget that Somalia has been in turmoil for such a long time. This is because Somaliland has managed to largely shelter itself from events in the rest of Somalia since 1991, when it made a unilateral declaration of independence and proclaimed its return to the separate status that it enjoyed as a British protectorate before joining the Somali Federation in 1961. Somaliland today is, for all practical purposes, like any other third-world developing country more or less at peace. There are of course instances of human rights violations, to which the independent expert will return below. 18. During his short stay in Hargeisa, the independent expert had a number of useful meetings with Somaliland officials, including a very long session with the Minister for Justice. The main thrust of his interlocutors was the same as a year ago, namely that Somaliland was a sovereign and independent State, and that recognition of this fact by the international community would help the cause of peace in Somalia. 19. The independent expert also met with the leaders of the main opposition parties in Somaliland. This was important in the light of the tension in Somaliland around the presidential elections, which had been postponed by the Government. Other scheduled meetings had to be cancelled owing to shortage of time. More time should have been allowed for the visit to Somaliland. 20. An important aspect of the independent expert’s schedule in Somaliland was his visit to Hargeisa University, where a legal aid programme had been set up in collaboration with UNDP to help those in need of legal aid and to build the capacity of students and young lawyers. The independent expert had a good exchange of views with the participants, who impressed by their sense of dedication and the results achieved in helping those who needed their assistance, including many victims of human rights violations. This is a very useful programme, which is worthy of replication in other places in Somalia. 21. The meeting with the Somaliland non-governmental organizations was focused more on local concerns. It showed how much the Somaliland people regard themselves as a separate nation. They reported on their perception of the human rights situation in Somaliland. The representative from the disabled community made a strong plea that special attention be paid to their situation. 22. The independent expert met separately with representatives of United Nations agencies in Somaliland, who briefed him on their work and particularly the situation since the bomb blasts of October 2008, which had killed a number of United Nations staff members and destroyed the main United Nations compound in Hargeisa. They stated that, though there was an appearance of normalcy on the ground, fear of attack by the Al-Shabaab insurgents was always there. This had obviously imposed serious restrictions on the work and movement of United Nations personnel in the area. D. Visit to Garowe and Boosaaso, Puntland 23. The highlight of the independent expert’s visit to Puntland was his meeting with Abdirahman Muhammad Farole, the President of Puntland, an autonomous state within Somalia.