Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
The Juba Valley Alliance (JVA), 1999–2006
The Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) was a militia alliance that held the port city of Kismayo from 1999, when it pushed out General Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan, until September 2006. The UN described it as balanced between Haber Gedir factions of the Hawiye and the Marehan, a Darod sub-clan. Its chairman, Colonel Barre Aden Shire 'Hirale', sat in the 2004 Transitional Federal Parliament and became Minister of Defence. The JVA fought Morgan's forces for years and ran Kismayo airport for revenue. On 24 September 2006 Barre Hirale fled Kismayo and the Islamic Courts took the city.
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). 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).
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). For the fighting over Kismayo afterwards, see the 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). He became a member of the Transitional Federal Parliament in 2004 (S/2004/804, para. 12) and later "the Minister of Defence of the Transitional Federal Government" (S/2006/838, para. 23).
- Yusuf Mire Serar. Named in 2005 as leading "other leaders of the Juba Valley Alliance" at reconciliation talks (S/2005/642, para. 47).
The wars with General Morgan
General Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan and the JVA had been "fighting over territories in the Juba Valley for a number of years" (S/2005/642, para. 47).
- February 2002, Bardere. 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). See the 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).
- 2005 talks. A reconciliation effort launched in Brava 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 militia in Haramka area. At least 13 people were reported killed and 29 wounded" (S/2004/469, para. 32).
- 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).
- Peace talks. JVA leaders were absent from the Kenya peace conference for almost two months in 2003 (S/2003/636, para. 5). 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):
- A Jubaland plan. Barre Hirale "reportedly proposed the creation of a Jubaland autonomous region, to include the Lower and Middle Juba and 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 and 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 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 gunmen who have occupied us for years" (HRW, So Much to Fear, 2008, note 164).
Read the primary sources yourself
Sources
- UN Security Council, S/2004/804, para. 12 · documents.un.org
- S/2006/418, para. 36 · documents.un.org
- S/2006/838, para. 27 · documents.un.org
- S/2006/122, para. 5 · documents.un.org
- S/2005/642, para. 47 · documents.un.org
- S/2002/709, para. 13 · documents.un.org
- S/2004/469, para. 32 · documents.un.org
- S/2006/229, para. 44 and annex · documents.un.org
- S/2003/636, para. 5 · documents.un.org
- HRW, So Much to Fear, 2008, note 164 · hrw.org
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Keep reading
- The Somali Civil WarThe Somali Civil War from the 1980s to now: the rebel fronts, the fall of Siad Barre, the split of Mogadishu, famine, the UN years, the Islamic Courts and al-Shabaab.
- The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), 2001–2004The SRRC, the Ethiopian-hosted alliance against Somalia's Arta government: its founding in 2001, its refusal to recognise the TNG, its fighting, and its part in the Kenya talks.
- The Burao conference and Somaliland's declaration, May 1991The Burao conference of 1991 and the declaration of the Republic of Somaliland: who attended, what was decided, the first government, and the first year after.
- The Transitional Federal Parliament, 2004–2012Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament from 2004 to 2012: how members were chosen by clan, the first sessions in Nairobi and Baidoa, the 2009 expansion, the Kampala Accord and the handover.
- UNOSOM I, 1992–1993: the first UN operation in SomaliaUNOSOM I, April 1992 to March 1993: the Mogadishu ceasefire, the observers and the Pakistani battalion, the famine, the looting of aid, and the turn to UNITAF.
- The UN and US intervention, 1992–1995: UNOSOM and UNITAFUNOSOM I and II and the US-led UNITAF, 1992–1995: the famine, the missions, the 5 June and 3 October 1993 battles, the civilian toll, and the withdrawal.