The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF; Arabic: الجبهة الوطنية لتحرير مورو) is a political organization in the Philippines that was founded in 1972.

[1] In 1996, the MNLF signed a landmark peace agreement with the Philippine government under the administration of President Fidel Ramos that saw the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an area composed of two mainland provinces and three island provinces in which the predominantly Muslim population enjoys a degree of self-rule.

[17] The Philippine government wanted to encourage migration of landless Christians from other parts of the country in a so-called Homestead Program (1903–1973).

[18][19] Poverty, grievances of the Muslim population, weak rule of law and difficult terrain have made counterterrorism challenging against insurgents in the Southern Philippines.

[23] Bangsamoro Liberation Organization (BMLO) and Ansarul Islam founders were Domocao Alonto, Sayyid Sharif Capt.

[24] The advocacy of Ansar El Islam would, later on, inspire the creation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the MILF.

[25][26] There has been a long-standing allegation that Malaysia provided the initial training and arming of the first batch of MNLF cadres known as "Top 90" in 1969.

[27] It has been alleged that Malaysia was either ignorant or tolerated the illicit arms shipments, mainly from the Middle East, flowing into Mindanao that fueled the insurgency.

[1] MNLF officially claims that its ideology is egalitarianism, and the organization is a secular movement, unlike its splinter group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

[33] As of 14 August 2015[update], the current chairman of the group is uncertain and the sources, including Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Philippine Government, disagree.

[1] United Nations Security Council report stated in 2010 that the splinter groups Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayyaf recruit and use child soldiers in the conflict.

[1][35] In 2015 Nur Misuari rejected reports on the MNLF involvement in the North Borneo dispute and said only the Sultanate of Sulu can pursue the negotiations for the Sabah claim with the Malaysian sides.

[37] In 2013, the Nur Misuari faction of the MNLF declared independence for the Bangsamoro Republik and attacked Zamboanga City.

[54] The Moro National Liberation Front makes use of a flag consist of a golden yellow star and crescent and a kris on a red field.

The red field represents the Bangsamoro activism, decisiveness, persistence, frugality, and sacrifices in pushing forward the revolutionary struggle for survival, self-determination, and success.