The Contribution of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to the Peace Process in Mindanao

Abstract

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has been involved in conflict resolution of a highly complex and intractable civil war in the context of Mindanao in the Philippines for over a period of 35 years. This article presents an investigation of such a long-lasting and arduous response by first, presenting an overview of the OIC in terms of its mandate, structure and previous conflict resolution activities. Second, it contextualises the Mindanao conflict by focussing on its main actors; and third, the OIC's response as a third party through different types of conflict resolutions modalities in the historicity of the peace process will be explored in the analysis section. The conclusions will summarise a set of reasons why the OIC's response has overall been ad hoc, politically charged and ineffective in bringing about a peaceful resolution to the Mindanao conflict.