War in Mindanao and Sulu (21st Century Crisis)

The War in Mindanao and Sulu (Filipino: Laban sa Mindanao at Sulu, Malay: Perang Di Mindanao dan Sulu) also known as the Mindanao Independance Struggle (Malay: Perjuangan Merdeka Mindanao) was an armed struggle between the Mindanao Free Army and Royal Sulu Army against the Philippine Armed Forces for control of the islands of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan that lasted from 1949 to 1967.

It started in 1949, when Moro nationalist leader Ahmad Salahuddin proclaimed independance for Mindanao from Philippine rule, the same time his ally Jainal Abirin was crowned the Sultan of Sulu. Salahuddin dreamed of a united and free Mindanao in which both Moros and Lumads (non-Muslim natives) could fight together. This resulted in a military response from the Philippine government, by sending forces to Mindanao and Sulu, thereby starting the armed struggle for independance among the peoples of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

Salahuddin united both the Muslim and non-Muslim natives of the island.

Due to incompentency in leadership witin the Filipino forces, the Mindanao Free Army found itself successfully holding off and repelling the Filipino forces through three presidencies. The MFA defeated the Filipino army in many key cities and regions in Mindanao, including Maguidanao, Marawi City, Zamboanga City and Jolo. Due to these Moro victories, Ahmad Salahuddin became complacent, and led to the failed invasion of Palawan, in which the Mindanao Free Army was defeated by the Filipino forces. In 1955, the Kingdom of Sulu joined the Mindanao Republic, and thus, the former Royal Sulu Forces was integrated into the Mindanao Free Army.

Still, for much of the de facto Republic of Mindanao's existance, the Mindanao Free Army continued to hold off Filipino incursions into the south, nearly forcing the Philippine government to submit and grant Mindanao its independance. This would end with the rule of Ferdinand Marcos, who had purged the army of incompetent leaders and replaced them with better leaders, trained by Americans. Thus in 1967, the Mindanao Free Army, battered, was finally defeated and signed a surrender with the Filipino government.

However, the Mindanao Constabulary, the branch of the Philippine National Constabulary operating in Mindanao and Sulu, is considered a succeeding descendant of the Mindanao Free Army. Under Corazon Aquino's presidency, she also allowed certain fighters from the Mindanao Free Army to be considered Filipino veterans.