SUMMARY

The Forces of Omar Jess are a non-state militia employed by the politician by the same name to advance his goals in Somalia. Colonel Omar Jess was one of the key figures in Somalia during the 1990s and early 2000s. He was in charge of the Somali rebel group SPM´s (Somali Patriotic Movement) military issues and in that position strongly involved in the ousting of Dictator Siad Barre. In 1992, Omar Jess broke with the SPM as a reaction to internal power struggles and founded the SPM/SNA (Somali Patriotic Movement/Somali National Alliance), leaving General Morgan in control of SPM. This event constitutes the origins of the hatred relations between Morgan and Jess, a relation which will by large determine the future for both. As of 1992, the SPM/SNA, which relied on support of the Ogaden subclan of Darod, was active in the southern part of Somalia, namely in fighting the SPM and in the struggle over the port city of Kismayo, held by General Morgan.

After the de facto end of SPM/SNA in mid-1994, Colonel Omar Jess continued to be active as a more independent figure, and was appointed Minister of Defense in the late Muhammad Farah Aydid government in 1996, a position he held until Farah Aydid´s death in August of the same year. In early 1997, Colonel Jess and his forces hold the southern Somali port city Kismayo, but lost control over it in the same year. The Forces of Omar Jess continued unsuccessfully to seek control over the city in 1998. Omar Jess, now acting under the roof of the JVA (Jubba Valley Alliance), finally won the city back in 1999, and managed to defend it against several attacks from General Morgan. As of 2001, Omar Jess strongly supported first the TNG (Transitional National Government) and later the TFG (Transitional Federal Government).

Throughout all the years, Colonel Omar could count on continued support of the Ogaden subclan of Darod, mainly the Zubeir subclan of Ogaden, who constituted the backbone of the forces of Omar Jess.

The forces of Omar Jess have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.