Nur Misuari began his campaign through the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM) in the 1970s, which later became the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Under Misuari’s leadership the MNLF challenged the government until the Tripoli Agreement was negotiated in 1976. Misuari was charged in connection to the deadly 20-day attack in Zamboanga city in September 2013, which left nearly 200 people dead; but in 2016, Misuari was granted a temporary suspension of his arrest and asked for his help in the peace negotiations in Mindanao. In late 2019, President Duterte appointed Nur Misuari as Special Economic Envoy on Islamic Affairs to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Despite recent pressure to arrest Misuari, he continues to work toward peace with the Philippines’ government and has offered to deploy MNLF fighters to help defeat the DA’ISH-backed Maute Group.