INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE’S related to his criticizing the president on RIGHTS Facebook. The impact of drought and floods driven by FORCED EVICTIONS AND TRANSFER OF POPULATION climate change, conflict and the loss of On 2 and 3 October, Somaliland authorities livelihoods exacerbated the protracted forcibly evicted, rounded up and transferred humanitarian crisis. In addition to more than over 7,000 men, women and children from 2.6 million people who were already internally Las Anod town and its surrounding areas in displaced in previous years, 573,000 people the Sool region to locations in Puntland. The fled their homes between January and Somaliland government said those targeted August, according to the UN. Of those, over for this exercise were “non-locals” from 70% were fleeing conflict, including around southern Somalia who posed a security threat 207,000 who were temporarily displaced in to Somaliland. Some of the families had lived Mogadishu due to election-related violence in in Las Anod for 20 years and have since lost April. Around 50% of all those displaced in their property, business assets and 2021 were women and girls who faced an livelihoods. According to the UN, the majority increased risk of sexual violence and of those displaced initially arrived in Galkayo, harassment. Humanitarian access to most of Puntland, most of whom proceeded to those affected was restricted because of Hirshabelle and Banadir in the South West insecurity, severely limiting their access to State, and were in need of urgent protection food, water, sanitation, housing and and humanitarian assistance. Somaliland healthcare. authorities neither gave notice to the families SOMALILAND nor allowed them to take their belongings with them. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Authorities in Somaliland severely restricted 1. Somalia: “We Just Watched Covid-19 Patients Die”: Covid-19 freedom of expression, particularly targeting Exposed Somalia's Weak Healthcare System but Debt Relief Can individuals perceived to be promoting unity Transform It (Index: AFR 52/4602/2021), 18 August with Somalia. The Human Rights Centre, a local human rights organization, reported that 42 individuals were arrested in Borama town, SOUTH AFRICA and 15 in Las Anod town, on 26 June and 16 July, respectively, for wearing outfits made Republic of South Africa from the Somali flag. They were released Head of state and government: Matamela Cyril without charge. Ramaphosa On 19 August, the authorities in Burao town arbitrarily arrested independent journalist Incidents of gender-based violence Abdimalik Muse Oldon for the second time in increased dramatically and women’s access two years. He was held in connection with an to sexual and reproductive healthcare was altercation over social media with the restricted. Children faced significant president when he alleged that the inequalities in the public education system, management of Barwaaqo University was exacerbated by Covid-19: up to 500,000 spreading Christianity. On 12 October, he was children dropped out of school during the charged with offences including “spreading pandemic. There were numerous cases of false information and anti-national alleged corruption in provincial health propaganda”, and “criminal defamation”. His departments. Millions of people did not trial was ongoing at the end of the year and have access to adequate sanitation and he remained in detention. In 2020, he had water. Foreign-owned businesses were been released from prison following a targeted in xenophobic attacks, and presidential pardon having served one year of undocumented migrants were excluded a three-and-a-half-year sentence on charges from the vaccine roll-out. Security forces Amnesty International Report 2021/22 332