Official election results in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) show that political parties linked to a former rebel group are leading in the region’s first-ever vote. The election took place in a predominantly Muslim area in the southern Philippines, which has been plagued by decades of conflict. The region was established in 2014 through a peace agreement that ended a long-running insurgency, offering autonomy to the Muslim population in exchange for the disarmament of rebel fighters. The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), led by the region's transitional Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, emerged as the top party in the party list vote, securing nearly 36% of the vote and 16 seats in the regional parliament. The BFP is expected to have won more seats in district elections, but the Commission on Elections has yet to release the full list of candidates with their party affiliations. The United Bangsamoro Justice Party, led by former Interim Chief Minister Ahod "Al Haj Murad" Ebrahim, came in second with more than 32% of the vote and 15 seats. However, no single party has secured a majority, leaving the formation of a government uncertain. The regional parliament will convene on October 30, where members will elect the region’s chief minister, who will also serve as head of the executive branch. A simple majority of 41 votes is needed to win the position. The BARMM was created under the 2014 peace agreement, replacing an earlier autonomous region with a larger, better-funded, and more empowered structure. In return for the disarmament of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s 40,000 fighters, the agreement promised support for their reintegration into society through livelihood programs and other assistance. The southern Philippines has experienced decades of violence, with an estimated 150,000 people, including combatants and civilians, losing their lives since the 1970s. Development in the region, one of the country’s poorest, was long stunted by conflict and instability. Mindanao, the region’s main island, was once seen as a haven for groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State, until a U.S.-backed military campaign weakened their presence. In 2017, a siege by Islamic State-linked militants in Marawi led to months of fighting that killed over 1,100 people and devastated parts of the city. Murad, the leader of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, described the election as the start of a "new chapter" in the region’s history, emphasizing a government focused on service and community development after years of struggle.