Juba Valley Alliance

Juba Valley Alliance
LeadersCol. Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale
Col. Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag
Dates of operationJune 2001 – 2008
Group(s)Marehan[1]
HeadquartersKismayo
Active regionssouthern Somalia
OpponentsSomalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC)
Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM-Harti)
Islamic Courts Union (ICU)
Preceded by
Allied Somali Forces (ASF)
Succeeded by
Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

The Juba Valley Alliance (JVA; Somali: Isbahaysiga Dooxada Jubba) is a political faction of the Somali Civil War. It was the primary opponent of the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) and the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) vying for the control of Kismayo and the Juba River valley, the area known as Jubaland.

Following the breakdown of central authority in the Somali Civil War, General Hersi "Morgan" declared Jubaland independent on September 3, 1998.[2]

Opponents to General "Morgan" came from the Somali Marehan. The Marehan Somali National Front (SNF) and other tribal allies grouped together as the Allied Somali Forces (ASF). They ousted General "Morgan" from Kismayu in June 1999.[3]

The ASF administration renamed itself the Juba Valley Alliance in June 2001, and threw its support behind the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).[4] The leader of the JVA is Colonel Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale, who later became Defense Minister for the TFG. The militia commander of the JVA is Col. Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag.

On June 18, 2001, an 11-member interclan council decided to ally the JVA with the newly establishing Transitional Federal Government.[5]

On August 6, 2001, after 10 days of heavy fighting in a battle involving 40 technicals and 1,000 militiamen, the JVA took the town of Jilib from the SRRC.[6]

In 2002, the JVA battled with the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), which opposed the TFG, resulting in 6,000 refugees fleeing Bulo Hawa. In 2003, there were 15,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) accommodated in Kismayo. Fighting throughout southern and central Somalia resulted in 86,000 IDPs by 2004.[7] Landmines were cited as a problem affecting the area due to the fighting between the JVA and SRRC.[8]

  1. ^ "Somalia: Main Political Organizations". Mudug.com. Archived from the original on 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  2. ^ Footnotes to History: G to J Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Footnotes to History
  3. ^ Somalia Assessment, September 1999 Country Information and Policy Unit, Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Home Office, UK
  4. ^ "Somalia". World Statesmen. Retrieved March 9, 2006. – also shows Italian colonial flag & links to map
  5. ^ Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia, 11 Oct 2001, Document S/2001/963 United Nations Security Council
  6. ^ Simultaneous Heavy Fightings Erupt in Somalia People's Daily
  7. ^ Recurrent displacements in southern and central Somalia due to intermittent inter-factional conflicts (2004) Archived 2012-07-20 at the Wayback Machine IDMC
  8. ^ SOMALIA Land Mine Monitor