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. He suffered the loss of Kismayo in September 2006, and further defeat during ICU's takeover of the Juba Valley in October 2006. On October 14, his wife was arrested in Kismayo, along with a number of other women. 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, 2006, 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. Ethiopian jets continued to patrol over Jilib, and a column of 15 tanks was reported heading towards Bu'aale and Jilib. The Islamic militia reportedly mined the road to Jilib.
Battle of Jilib On December 31, 2006, 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.
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." ==References==