On 27 March 2014, the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the culmination of efforts and peace talks which started in 1997.

Since 2009, an International Contact Group (ICG) accompanied the parties towards a landmark agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict which have cost more than 100,000 lives. This milestone accord, which was facilitated by Malaysia, serves as a road map to political and structural reforms in Mindanao, including the creation of a new autonomous political entity called ’Bangsamoro’.

However, since the signing of the agreement, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has not been passed, thus preventing transition towards the creation of the new Bangsamoro autonomous political entity. Given the dire economic situation in Mindanao, the growing polarisation in political discourse and the arrival by 30 June 2016 of a new government which might see the peace process differently, prospects for peace are diminishing.

In this EPLO Brown Bag Lunch discussion, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and MILF Chief Negotiator Mohaqer Iqbal will talk about their perspectives on the state of play of the peace process in Mindanao. Their presentation will be followed by a discussion, in which participants are invited to ask questions and share their own experiences on the peace process.

Please note that places are limited and registration is mandatory. Please contact Susanne Wander if you would like to participate.