HD welcomes appointment of first head of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao, Philippines

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) welcomes the appointment, on Friday 22 February 2019 in Manila, of Haji Murad Ebrahim, Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as Interim Chief Minister of the newly-established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in the south of the Philippines. 

Mr Ebrahim’s appointment follows the successful plebiscite held earlier this year, in favour of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which has led to the creation of the BARMM and the definition of its boundaries.

As BARMM Interim Chief Minister, Mr Ebrahim will be in charge of overseeing the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) during a three-year transitional period until new regional leaders are elected in 2022.

The BTA is composed of representatives from the Moro Fronts, other armed groups, indigenous people, traditional leaders, as well as community representatives including women and young people.

The establishment of the BARMM and appointment of the BTA represent major steps in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the MILF and the Government of the Philippines reached in 2014, following a long and arduous period of negotiation.

They are also a testament to the parties’ sincerity and commitment, and represent an important step in bringing lasting peace back to Mindanao. 

HD commends the parties for this remarkable achievement and stands ready to continue supporting the transition to peaceful autonomous government in Muslim Mindanao.

The organisation has supported implementation of peace agreements between the Government and armed groups in Mindanao since 2004.

Since 2009, HD has been a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) which helped shepherd the parties towards two landmark agreements: the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2012 and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014.