Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

Puntland. However, in Somaliland, violations against the Gaboye people occurred
throughout 2010. The Gaboye reportedly suffered verbal abuse and restrictions in
their day-to-day life.
Our lack of access, because of the poor security situation, prevented us from closely
monitoring minority rights in most of Somalia. However, we raised minority rights
with the Somaliland government in 2010 and will continue to push for equal rights in
all areas of Somalia.
Conflict
Over the course of 2010, hundreds of civilians were killed and injured as a result of
being caught up in the conflict in southern and central Somalia and especially in
Mogadishu. The UN Inter Agency Standing Committee Protection Cluster, that
provides a coordinated humanitarian response to protection and humanitarian
needs, recorded more than 1,000 killings throughout 2010 and more than 1,600
weapon-related casualties between September and November alone – including 127
children under the age of five. Insurgent groups frequently stationed themselves in
densely populated civilian areas such as markets where they then launched attacks
on government forces and African Union soldiers. Civilian casualties have been
reported as a result of African Union and Transitional Federal Government forces
defending themselves against insurgent attack. We worked closely with the
Transitional Federal Government and the African Union throughout 2010 to explore
ways in which to minimise the risk to civilians.
We contributed to the EU mission to train Somali forces in Uganda. Upon
completion of training, the troops are stationed in Mogadishu to work with the African
Union and existing Transitional Federal Government soldiers. This training includes
a mandatory human rights module for all new recruits.
Throughout 2010 there continued to be sporadic clashes in the disputed territories of
Sool and Sanaag on the Puntland/Somaliland border, and elsewhere throughout
Somalia, with clan militias and insurgent groups. Regional administrations and clan
elders continued to mediate between conflicts. The new Somaliland government
made significant efforts in the latter part of 2010 to mediate between and reconcile
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