The Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed to establish a new autonomous region for the Moro people in Mindanao and its adjacent islands. The Office of the President of the Philippines announced yesterday that both parties had agreed "that the new autonomous political entity shall have a ministerial form of the government". The talks, hosted by Malaysia, are being mediated by an international group made up of Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Conciliation Resources, Muhammadiyah, and The Asia Foundation.

Although the Government considers this as a "major step", it was also quick to explain that "the document is not the final peace agreement". Thus, major elements still remain to be agreed, such as the borders of the new autonomous region, the powers that it will administer, or the wealth sharing between the entity and the Philippines.

It has been announced that further talks will be held in May.

A half-century struggle

The Moro people have been struggling for their own state since the 1960s. A first agreement was reached in 1987, which led to the establishment of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The Moro people and the MILF continued to demand more self-government and an enlarged territory, something that was accepted by the Government of the Philippines in 2008. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, though, declared the agreement as unconstitutional. New peace talks started in 2010.

Further information:

• Inquirer News: Government to replace ARMM
• Mindanao Examiner: Secluded MILF chieftain praises ‘breakthrough' in peace talks