Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale

Barre Adan Shire ( _so. "Barre Aadan Shire"), also known as Barre Hiiraale, Barre "Hirale" Aden Shire, or Abdikadir Adan Shirecite news
title=Somalia's Shire Defies Peacekeeper Plan
url=http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/242/050.shtml
date=2006-09-07
publisher=Somaliland Times
accessdate=2007-02-11 ] , is the former Minister of Defense of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which was formed in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2004. He was previously the TFG Minister for National Reconstruction and Resettlement. Hiiraale was also the Chairman of the now defunctJuba Valley Alliance, which controlled Southern and Southwestern Somalia, including the third-largest city of Somalia, the strategic port town of Kismayo. He presides over the largest autonomous area in that country, as well as commanding an extensive Somali militia.

Biography

Barre Hiiraale was born in Gelaadi, which today is part of the Ethiopia-controlled Ogaden region. He moved to neighbouring Abudwak in the Galgadud region of Somalia, and from there on to Mogadishu for secondary school. Hiiraale went to the prestigious United States military school at West Point. That scholarship and patronage was part of cold-war treaties signed by Mogadishu and Washington in exchange for Washington's use of naval facilities in the coastal Somali cities of Kismayo, Mogadishu, and Berbera. Barre Hiiraale came back with a degree in Military Science, as well as Political Relations in Military Warfare. Barre Hiiraale was an army Colonel when the Somali civil war began. Recently, the supreme leader of the newly-formed Islamic Courts Union (ICU) has sent praises to Barre Hiiraale, calling him an honorable and a patriotic leader.Fact|date=February 2007 Hiiraale offered to mediate between the two feuding factions of the government based in Jowhar and Mogadishu, led by President Abdullahi Yusuf and the Parliamentary Speaker Sharif Hassan, respectively.Fact|date=February 2007at that time he resused to go to jowhar or badhabo where the government setle so Bare Adan shire (bare hiirale) dicided to be in kismayo no where going.islamic court

omali Civil War

In the years of the Somali Civil War, he became a commander in the Marehan Somali National Front (SNF). Under Col. Hirale's command, the SNF defeated the forces of Mohamed Farah Aidid and his USC in Gedo region. The SNF then took control of Kismayo and Lower Jubba region with the defeat and ousting of Mohammed Said Hersi "Morgan" and his SRRC Allied militias composed of the Ogaden SPM, the Harti SSDF, and Rahanweyn RRA.

Juba Valley Alliance

He was chairman of the Juba Valley Alliance (Isbahaysiga Dooxada Jubba), which declared autonomy from the rest of Somalia in 1998, and controlled Kismayo and the Juba Valley until the defeat of his forces by the ICU in 2006.

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. [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200108/06/eng20010806_76593.html Simultaneous Heavy Fightings Erupt in Somalia] People's Daily]

With hopes to end the violence, Col. Hirale participated in the Somali Reconciliation Conference, held in Eldoret, Kenya, in 2002. [http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30536&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=SOMALIA SOMALIA: Interview with Barre Adan Shire, chairman of the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA)] IRIN]

Transitional Federal Government

Col. Hirale serves as Defense Minister in Somalia's Transitional Federal Government. In November 2005, he was instrumental in making a compromise proposal to help establish the TFG. [http://english.people.com.cn/200511/17/eng20051117_221836.html Rival lawmakers resolve to end rifts with Somali government] Xinhua, November 15, 2005]

He suffered the loss of Kismayo in September 2006 [http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_printable&report_id=560&language_id=1 Somalia's Islamists Resume Their Momentum and Embark on a Diplomatic Path] PINR] , and further defeat during ICU's takeover of the Juba Valley in October 2006. [http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_printable&report_id=569&language_id=1 War Clouds Loom over Somalia as Military Fronts Open Up Amid a Flurry of Diplomacy] PINR] On October 14, his wife was arrested in Kismayo, along with a number of other women. [http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_5461.shtml Somalia Islamists arrest women, incl. defense minister’s wife] Garowe Online]

He regrouped his forces in Gedo region, and successfully lead the counterattacking TFG forces, who, alongside Ethiopian troops, won successive battles during December 2006, eventually forcing the ICU back to Mogadishu, where, on December 29, the TFG and Ethiopian forces took Mogadishu.

Retaking the Juba Valley

On December 29, TFG forces under Defense Minister (and former head of the Juba Valley Alliance) Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale entered Bu'aale, approximately 150 km north of Kismayo. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6281 Ethiopia-Somalia forces seize control of southern Buale city] SomaliNet] Ethiopian jets continued to patrol over Jilib, [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/29/Mogadishu.Somalia.ap/ Somali prime minister arrives to cheers in Mogadishu] Associated Press] and a column of 15 tanks was reported heading towards Bu'aale and Jilib. The Islamic militia reportedly mined the road to Jilib. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28741526.htm Somali PM enters Mogadishu, crowds line route] Reuters]

Battle of Jilib

On December 31, the Battle of Jilib determined the control of the approaches to Kismayo. The result of the battle was the retaking of Kismayo on January 1, 2007, which was abandoned by ICU forces.

= Peace Building = On December 31, 2006, the Defense minister and his army confronted two opposing militias who were disputing the control of a vehicle left behind. Apparently, upon the Defense minister approaching them, they both united their guns towards the Defense minister and his army, forcing them to defend themselves. The casualties reported numbered 10 for the combined militia and 2 for the Defense minister. [cite news |url=http://www.gedonet.com/index.php?news=827 |title=Barre Hiiraale's army disarm militia in Diinsoor |publisher=The Gedonet]

Pardon Offered to Islamists

On January 2, 2007, in Kismayo, Col. Hiiraale offered an amnesty to former members of the ICU forces. He also spoke about the strength of the new government: "You have heard a lot of times that the transitional government is weak... But I will confirm [to] you that the national army are in control of all regions in the country - east, centre and south." [http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=c5e51d4a-00a8-47e7-99fa-d163b1095576&k=19950&p=2 Somalia's PM: Islamic fighters scattered, major fighting likely over] Canadian Press]

References