May 15, 2025 | Cotabato City
As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its 2025 parliamentary elections, religious leaders and civil society groups are ramping up efforts to address the persistent threat of clan feuds, or rido, which continue to endanger community safety and stability across the region.
On April 29, Geneva Call hosted a Multi-Stakeholders Forum on Emerging Trends of Local Violence and Protection Efforts in BARMM in Cotabato City. The event gathered a diverse group of participants—including traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and government representatives—to strategize on preventing violence and protecting civilians in vulnerable communities.
One of the forum’s key discussions centered on how faith and tradition can serve as tools for peace. Sheikh Talal Sabpa of the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI), a featured panelist, spoke during 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,” he said, stressing the importance of faith-based leadership in mitigating conflict.
The forum promoted a holistic approach to peacebuilding that combines formal legal frameworks with Islamic teachings and local customs. Speakers emphasized how leveraging religious wisdom and community-driven solutions can help break the cycle of violence that has long plagued the region.
Rido—often fueled by land disputes, political rivalry, or long-standing family hostilities—remains a major driver of conflict and displacement in BARMM. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it has been one of the top causes of internal displacement in the region.
In recent years, efforts to resolve these feuds have increasingly leaned on faith-based approaches such as community dialogues, traditional mediation, and the issuance of fatwas. These culturally rooted practices, supported by religious institutions, aim to de-escalate tensions before they erupt into violence.
As BARMM moves closer to its parliamentary elections, stakeholders hope that enhanced cooperation among religious leaders, local communities, and government institutions will foster safer, more resilient communities.
The forum underscored the belief that peace is not only a political goal—but a communal and spiritual responsibility.