Philippines (ASG)

Conflict Summary

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) purports to seek an independent Islamic state centred on Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Its actions to date, however, have focused more on banditry and kidnapping, in an attempt to extort money from foreign individuals and governments. The US has aided Philippine troops in an attempt to track down the remaining members of the ASG. Some analysts have identified links between the ASG and al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah. Although the US and the government of the Philippines have stated in recent years that the threat posed by the ASG has been largely contained, the group continues to carry out kidnappings and bombings in Mindanao.