Philippines: Manila Takes a Long-Awaited Step Toward Calming Mindanao

After four years of delay, the Philippine government has fulfilled a key pledge to appease the ethnic Moro minority in its restive south. On July 26, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law. This starts the process of implementing a new autonomous region in Mindanao that will grant the Muslim group greater control over local affairs. While this will do much to erode the appeal of extremist and jihadist groups, numerous risks will arise during the long period of implementation....