Moro National Liberation Front
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF; Arabic: الجبهة الوطنية لتحرير مورو) is a political organization in the Philippines that was founded in 1972. It started as a splinter group of the Muslim Independence Movement. The MNLF was the leading organization among Moro separatists for about two decades beginning from the 1970s.
| Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) | |
|---|---|
| الجبهة الوطنية لتحرير مورو | |
Flag and logo of the MNLF | |
| Leaders | Disputed since 1996 Nur Misuari (MNLF) and Mus Sema (MNLF EC-15) |
| Dates of operation | March 18, 1968 – September 2, 1996 (as a secessionist group) September 2, 1996 – present (as a political organization) |
| Headquarters | Sulu, Philippines |
| Active regions | Mindanao, Philippines |
| Ideology | |
| Allies | State allies Republic of the Philippines Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (until 2011) Government of Malaysia (Mus Sema faction) Non-state allies MILF (MNLF EC-15) Sulu Sultanate (Jamalul Kiram III loyalist) (Misuari faction) |
| Opponents | State opponents Government of Malaysia (Misuari faction) Non-state opponent Al-Qaeda MILF (Misuari faction) New People's Army |
| Battles and wars | Moro conflict |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Malaysia (Misuari faction) |
| Website | www |
In 1996, the MNLF signed a landmark peace agreement with the Philippine government that saw the creation of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an area composed of two mainland provinces and three island provinces in which the predominantly Muslim population enjoys a degree of self-rule. Nur Misuari was installed as the region's governor but his rule ended in violence when he led a failed rebellion against the Philippine government in November 2001, and fled to Sabah before being deported back to the Philippines by the Malaysian authorities.
The MNLF is internationally recognized by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC). Since 1977, the MNLF has been an observer member of the OIC. On January 30, 2012, MNLF became an observer member of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC), as approved during the 7th PUIC global session held in Palembang, Indonesia.