SUMMARY
The JVA (Juba Valley Alliance) is an armed Somali militia, having mainly been active in various types of violent activities in the south-western corner of Somalia known as Jubbaland (which incorporates the Jubba Dhexe and Jubba Hoose regions). Before changing its name to JVA in June 2001 the group was known as the ASF (Allied Somali Forces). The ASF was formed to battle the SPM (Somali Patriotic Front) in the Jubba regions and later also opposed –and routed- the armed forces that proclaimed Jubbaland independent in 1998.
The JVA is dominated by the Marehan (Darod clan), Ogadeni (Darod clan) and Habar Gedir (Hawiye) clans, and is thus to an extent a cross-cutting political and military movement. At its peak the JVA is known to have had thousands of militiamen and tens of technicals (battlewagons) under its control.
The JVA’s most prized possession has been the southern port city of Kismayo, an important commercial hub from which to extract financial resources, and also the headquarters of the organisation. The JVA seized control of Kismayo in 1999, moving in from central Somalia and setting up an autonomous administration throughout the Jubba Regions. In general, the leaders and fighters of the JVA were not from clans native to southwest Somalia and were thus viewed by many as an occupying force.
In 2002 the JVA began to integrate itself into the structures of the TFG (Transitional Federal Government), which had been set up by a peace conference in an attempt to restore central government to Somalia. The JVA however remained as an independent actor, but placed the land under its control under the administration of the TFG. Between 2004 and 2006 it is hard to separate the TFG and JVA structures, with JVA leaders having had seats also in the institutions of the transitional government and employing their soldiers in support of its goals. The JVA as an organisation became defunct in 2006 at the hands of the ICU (Islamic Courts Union), and the remnants of the organisation integrated more firmly into the TFG.
The leader of the JVA up until 2006 was Barre Adan Shir, also known by his nom de guerre “Hiirale”. He was also Minister of Defence in the TFG.
The JVA has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.
