MHSD Minister and Member of the Parliament (MP) Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra served as one of the panelists who expounded on the topic “Conflict’s Long Game: A Decade of Violence in the Bangsamoro” at the Conflict Alert 2022 Book Launch held at the New World Makati Hotel, Makati City on July 28, 2022.

Minister Barra spoke about the Bangsamoro today and in the past, tackling the role of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the BARMM government in peace building.

He enumerated various approaches of settling land disputes observed under Islamic, traditional and international context, emphasizing those practiced by the Land Dispute Resolution Committee at the Most Affected Areas (MAA) in Marawi City.

International Alert Philippines, a Peacebuilding organization launched its book ‘Conflict’s Long Game: A Decade of Violence in Bangsamoro,’ and the Conflict Alert, a database system with information on conflicts in the country.

The book presents highlights of violent conflicts in the region from 2011 to 2020, tackling multicausal violence and conflict strings, land and other resource conflicts, shadow economies, violent extremism, violence against women and children, social media and polarization, and political and economic settlements.

During the launch, International Alert shared the assessment of the region from 2011 to 2020, which showed a decrease in deaths and displacements.

Among the issues identified and presented to causing horizontal violence in the region were land ownership, clan rivalries, religious identities, and political loyalties.

The Conflict Alert 2022 Book was edited by Francisco J. Lara Jr., Senior Peace and Conflict Adviser from International Alert, and Nikki Philine C. de la Rosa, Country Representative from International Alert Philippines.

Alongside Minister Barra as panelists for the roundtable discussions were MP Atty. Laisa M. Alamia, BTA Minority Floor Leader, Georgi Engelbrecht, Senior Analyst of the International Crisis Group, and Director Wendell P. Orbeso, Head of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) Implementation Department.

Participants were composed of international humanitarian organizations, local government units, academe and private organizations.

The activity was hosted by the International Alert, in partnership with The World Bank and Australian Aid.