MARAWI CITY (PIA) — With the 2025 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections approaching, religious leaders in the region are strengthening peace efforts to address recurring clan feuds (rido) that affect community stability and civilian safety.
Geneva Call convened the Multi-Stakeholders Forum on Emerging Trends of Local Violence and Protection Efforts in BARMM on April 29, 2025, in Cotabato City as part of these efforts. The forum gathered civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and government representatives to discuss strategies for conflict resolution and community protection.
Sheikh Talal Sabpa of the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI) served as a panelist in a session titled “Customary Norms Protecting Communities from Rido and How to Maximize Them in Rido Prevention.”
“The role of Islamic indigenous practices and community agreements in resolving clan feuds is crucial, underscoring the vital influence of faith-based leadership in mitigating conflicts,” he said.
The forum examined approaches that combine legal frameworks with local customs and Islamic teachings.
In his remarks, Talal emphasized the value of religious guidance and traditional conflict resolution methods in addressing rido.
Clan feuds, often tied to land disputes, political rivalries, and family conflicts, remain a persistent cause of violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ‘rido’ has been one of the leading drivers of displacement in the region.
In response, BARMM leaders have adopted faith-based approaches such as dialogue, mediation, and fatwa issuances to prevent conflict escalation.
By linking traditional practices with institutional support, the forum illustrated how collaboration among religious leaders, civil society, and government can help reduce violence and strengthen community protection ahead of the BARMM elections. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur )
