Juba Valley Alliance

Juba Valley Alliance
Participant in Somali Civil War
Active	June 2001 - 2008
Groups	Marehan, and Habr Gedir
Leaders	Col. Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale Col. Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag
Headquarters	Kismayo(former)
Area of operations	southern Somalia
Originated as	Allied Somali Forces (ASF)
Became	Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
Opponents	Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM-Harti) Islamic Courts Union (ICU)

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 Somali 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.

Opponents to General "Morgan" came from the Somali Marehan, Ogadeni and Habr Gedir ethnic groups. 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.

The ASF administration renamed itself the Juba Valley Alliance in June 2001, and threw its support behind the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). 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.

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.

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Wikipedia