SUMMARY
The conflict between the Forces of General Morgan and JVA (Jubba Valley Alliance) was to a large degree the continuation of the conflict between the Forces of General Morgan and the Forces of Omar Jess. At the core of the conflict was the control of Kismayo, the southern Somali port city, and the economic center of Jubbaland (see Forces of General Morgan - Forces of Omar Jess, SPM – SPM/SNA). After having lost Kismayo in 1997 and unsuccessfully attempted to win it back with his own forces in 1998, and following General Morgan’s declaration of independence of Jubbaland, Colonel Jess and several clans such as Marehan and Haber Gedir formed an alliance to counter what they perceived to be the occupation of southern Somalia. JVA was backed by self-declared President of Somalia Hussein Aideed and opposed SPM (Somali Patriotic Movement) and General Morgan. While the goal and activities of JVA were broader, resulting in the involvement of JVA in other conflicts as well, Kismayo played an important role for JVA. Its activities in Kismayo were led by Colonel Omar Jess, who thus continued his struggle against General Morgan.
In February 1999, renewed heavy fighting in and around Kismayo broke out and in June of that year, General Morgan was ousted from the city by Colonel Jess, now acting for JVA. Colonel Jess and JVA kept control of the city, despite few unsuccessful attempts by the Forces of General Morgan to win control back in 2001. The new political order in Somalia as of the early 2000s also influenced Kismayo, even though the known lines of divisions remained. During that time, the internationally supported TNG (Transnational National Government) was created, aimed at forming a unity government for all of Somalia. As a reaction, opposition forces created SRRC (Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council), mainly because of clan issues. JVA and Colonel Jess declared their support for TNG, while General Morgan expressed his opposition against TNG and allied with SRRC. In 2004, the Forces of General Morgan launched new attacks against JVA-controlled Kismayo. Meanwhile, peace talks were commenced between militias, clans, and political groups that took place, aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the complex overall political situation of Somalia. The attacks from the Forces of General Morgan resulted in that both, he and JVA, occasionally boycotted the peace talks. Despite these skirmishes, in November 2004 the talks were successful, the UN-sanctioned TFG (Transnational Federal Government) for Somalia was established, while JVA, supporting TFG, remained in control of Kismayo.
The non-state conflict between the Forces of General Morgan and JVA is first included in UCDP data in 1999. In January of that year fighting between the two groups led to more than 25 battle-related deaths.
