Turkey invited to mediate in Philippine-MILF conflict

Saudi Arabia’s response to the invitation is still pending. The ICG is the latest call of the Philippine government and the MILF to provide mediation and a platform for the ongoing negotiations to solve the decades-long conflict between the government and separatists in Mindanao that has left 120,000 dead. The Mindanao region is a southern territory predominantly populated by Muslims claiming autonomy due to growing oppression and human rights abuses by the central Philippine authority and the Christian majority.

The two conflicting sides have invited the UK, which has considerable mediation experience throughout the world, along with Japan. They have also invited two Muslim countries, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which both have a dominant influence in their respective regions.