# The Juba Valley Alliance (JVA), 1999–2006 > The Juba Valley Alliance that held Kismayo from 1999 to 2006: its clan make-up, its leader Barre Hirale, its wars with General Morgan, and the fall of Kismayo to the Islamic Courts. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/history/juba-valley-alliance/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short The Juba Valley Alliance "ousted [General Morgan] from Kismayo in 1999", the UN Secretary-General reported ([UN Security Council, S/2004/804, para. 12](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2004/804&l=en&t=pdf)). In 2006 the UN described it as "delicately balanced between the Haber Gedir factions of the Hawiye and those belonging to the Marehan, one of the major Darod sub-clans" ([S/2006/418, para. 36](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/418&l=en&t=pdf)). Its rule of Kismayo ended on 24 September 2006, when its chairman, Barre "Hirale", "fled Kismayo together with his militia", and the Islamic Courts took over the city ([S/2006/838, para. 27](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/838&l=en&t=pdf)). For the fighting over Kismayo afterwards, see [the battles for Kismayo, 2006–2012](/en/history/battles-for-kismayo-2006-2012/). ## Leaders - **Barre Aden Shire "Hirale".** "The Chairman of the Juba Valley Alliance in control of Kismayo" ([S/2006/122, para. 5](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/122&l=en&t=pdf)). He became a member of the [Transitional Federal Parliament](/en/history/transitional-federal-parliament-2004-2012/) in 2004 ([S/2004/804, para. 12](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2004/804&l=en&t=pdf)) and later "the Minister of Defence of the [Transitional Federal Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/)" ([S/2006/838, para. 23](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/838&l=en&t=pdf)). - **Yusuf Mire Serar.** Named in 2005 as leading "other leaders of the Juba Valley Alliance" at reconciliation talks ([S/2005/642, para. 47](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2005/642&l=en&t=pdf)). ## The wars with General Morgan General [Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan](/en/people/mohamed-said-hersi-morgan/) and the JVA had been "fighting over territories in the [Juba](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) Valley for a number of years" (S/2005/642, para. 47). - **February 2002, [Bardere](/en/regions/baardheere/).** Fighting broke out "between the Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council and the Juba Valley Alliance militias". Morgan "was reported to have attacked the town but was repulsed" ([S/2002/709, para. 13](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2002/709&l=en&t=pdf)). See [the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council](/en/history/somalia-reconciliation-and-restoration-council/). - **2004.** In late August Morgan moved some 500 militia from El Berde to the lower Juba. "On 15 September, Barre Hirale and his JVA militia attacked General 'Morgan' some 70 kilometres outside of Kismayo. Both sides suffered casualties." Morgan surrendered to Kenyan authorities at the Amuma border point on 24 September ([S/2004/804, para. 24](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2004/804&l=en&t=pdf)). - **2005 talks.** A reconciliation effort launched in [Brava](/en/regions/barawa/) in September 2005 aimed "to improve security in the region, strengthen the Juba Valley Alliance and reconcile General 'Morgan' and the Alliance" (S/2005/642, para. 47). ## Kismayo under the JVA - **Other fighting.** In early 2004, "the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) militia fought with the [Sheikhal](/en/society/sheekhaal/) militia in Haramka area. At least 13 people were reported killed and 29 wounded" ([S/2004/469, para. 32](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2004/469&l=en&t=pdf)). - **The airport.** The UN Monitoring Group listed Kismayo airport as owned by "Barre Hirale/Juba Valley Alliance", generating about "$300,000" a year; the report's annex gives $362,304 ([S/2006/229, para. 44 and annex](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/229&l=en&t=pdf)). - **Peace talks.** JVA leaders were absent from the Kenya peace conference for almost two months in 2003 ([S/2003/636, para. 5](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2003/636&l=en&t=pdf)). In November 2005 Barre Hirale proposed meetings in Kismayo to bring together the split Jowhar and Mogadishu wings of parliament (S/2006/122, para. 5). - **Strain in 2006.** "Localized disputes along the lower Juba Valley" and tensions spilling over from Mogadishu had "begun to strain the Juba Valley Alliance" (S/2006/418, para. 36). ## The fall of Kismayo, 2006 From the UN Secretary-General's report of October 2006 ([S/2006/838, paras. 23 and 27](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/838&l=en&t=pdf)): - **A [Jubaland](/en/states/jubaland/) plan.** Barre Hirale "reportedly proposed the creation of a Jubaland autonomous region, to include the Lower and Middle Juba and [Gedo](/en/regions/gedo/) regions". The plan met "resistance from the transitional federal institutions, the Supreme Council of the Islamic Courts and local populations". - **24 September 2006.** "After inconclusive negotiations with the forces of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Courts under the command of Hassan Turki, and facing a potential confrontation with the latter, the Chairman of the Juba Valley Alliance, Barre 'Hirale', fled Kismayo together with his militia." See [the Islamic Courts Union](/en/history/islamic-courts-union-2006/) and [Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki](/en/people/hassan-abdullah-hersi-al-turki/). ## Who suffered? - **The Bantu communities of the lower Juba Valley,** where "high malnutrition rates" after harvest failure were made worse by "the current conflict between forces loyal to General 'Morgan' and JVA" (S/2004/804, para. 32). - **People of [Buale](/en/regions/middle-juba/) and Jilib districts,** displaced by clashes in 2004 (S/2004/469, para. 32). - **Children.** The UN listed the Juba Valley Alliance among "Somali parties recruiting or using child soldiers" (S/2003/636, para. 42). - **People of Kismayo, Lower and Middle Juba and Gedo** in 2006, where the UN recorded "numerous reports of killings, rapes, extortion and kidnappings", and refugees, "mostly of women and children", fled to Kenya (S/2006/838, para. 27). ## Sources differ - **Its clan base.** The UN described the JVA in 2006 as a balance between Haber Gedir (Hawiye) and Marehan (Darod) factions. Human Rights Watch quoted a Juba Valley resident in 2008 who said later militias there were "the same [Habar Gedir](/en/society/habar-gidir/) gunmen who have occupied us for years" ([HRW, *So Much to Fear*, 2008, note 164](https://www.hrw.org/report/2008/12/08/so-much-fear/war-crimes-and-devastation-somalia)). ## Read the primary sources yourself - UN Secretary-General, reports on Somalia: S/2002/709, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2002/709&l=en&t=pdf); S/2003/636, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2003/636&l=en&t=pdf); S/2004/469, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2004/469&l=en&t=pdf); S/2004/804, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2004/804&l=en&t=pdf); S/2005/642, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2005/642&l=en&t=pdf); S/2006/122, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/122&l=en&t=pdf); S/2006/418, [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/418&l=en&t=pdf); S/2006/838 (23 October 2006), [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/838&l=en&t=pdf). - UN Monitoring Group on Somalia, report S/2006/229: [PDF](https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=S/2006/229&l=en&t=pdf). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. 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