Brief Newsfeed on Sulu Clan Conference
Sulu Clan Leaders’ Conference Brings Together Major Clans to Address Conflict

21 -22 September - Zamboanga City- For the last two months over 30 civilians have been killed in violent clan related conflicts in the small island province of Sulu in Mindanao, Philippines. While more known for terrorism and kidnapping in fact most violence in Sulu largely stems from clan conflicts. However, for the first time ever, 20 representatives of the most prominent clans put aside their guns and grievances and came together to try to put a stop to it. Convened by the Office of the Mufti of Sulu and the Swiss based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, the clan representatives met over the course of two days, at first listening and then engaging in workshop type sessions where they grappled with their rivals and tried to identify methods for resolving the conflicts. In fact, two clan conflicts were even resolved at the meeting itself.