A/HRC/15/48 The situation of human rights defenders deteriorated significantly. They have been targeted by all actors involved in the conflict. Key media outlets and individual journalists have come under attack. Many journalists, who were targeted, arbitrarily arrested, subjected to kidnapping and targeted killings, fled the country to seek refuge in the neighbouring countries. In Puntland and Somaliland, the situation remained more stable, with functioning authorities in both. In Somaliland, the successful holding of peaceful presidential elections in June and the inauguration of a new President have raised hopes for a new era, including with respect to human rights. In Puntland, the human rights situation deteriorated in the past few months, as a result of measures undertaken by the government to step up security in the face of increased infiltration by armed militants from the south. These included the forced transfer of some 900 male IDPs from Bossasso to Galkayo, restrictions on the media, including the imprisonment of a journalist for six years and other measures which are limiting the space of civil society. Overall, Somalia continued to slide deeper and deeper into humanitarian crisis. Despite this, however, there are hopeful signs on the horizon. An effort has been made in this report to draw attention upon them. The report has argued for continued and intensified efforts of all concerned to sustain the positive developments. 2