SUMMARY

The Maute Group, previously referred to as Khalifah Islamiyah Mindanao (KIM), was one of several Islamist groups present in southern Philippines. The group was founded in 2012 by the brothers Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, two former MILF members, who belonged to the Maranao ethnic group. They left MILF once the Philippine Congress failed to approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) – which would have led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region - and started recruiting for the formation of their own armed group, characterized by a more extremist stance. The Maute Group emerged on the public stage with the bombing of a nightclub in Cagayan de Oro in 2013, which killed six people and marked the beginning of the group´s escalation to violence. In a context permeated by over 40 years of Moro insurgency against the state, the Maute Group´s dominant narrative was strictly connected to the Bangsamoro´s idea of justice through self-governance. The latter refers to 13 indigenous ethnic groups of Muslim Mindanao, portrayed as a collective subjugated by the tyranny of the state, which was of a Christian majority, and whose only hope was that of self-government grounded on Islamic tenets. Such rhetoric has long dominated the political landscape of Southern Philippines, allowing Christian-Muslim animosity to flourish and on which the Maute´s “jihad” was grounded. Thus, themes such as redemption and revenge emerged as key features of the group´s ideology, and were also driving factors for recruits to join the organization. In fact, these were discussed in days-long religious seminars held by the Maute brothers during the recruitment process at the very dawn of the group´s existence. Eventually, reflecting the Bangsamoro cause, the actions carried out by the Maute Group aimed at establishing control over the southern region of the country, thus joining a territorial conflict against the Government of Philippines that had already been going on for decades. The Maute Group operated in the province of Lanao del Sur. More specifically, its headquarters were based in Butig, where they also ran a protection racket and had control over illegal drugs trades in order to fund their operations. Besides, the group also carried out its training and kept its military facilities in surrounding towns, including Marawi City. The actual size of the group was contested. While an initial assessment by the Government of Philippines estimated the presence of about 100 members only, the Maute Group reportedly lost around 200 member over the years and were still able to continue fighting, which suggested that their organizational level and military capacities might had been underestimated. Most of those who joined the group’s ranks had an academic background – just like the founding brothers – as well as experience in other Islamist groups. Besides, the recruits were typically known by Omar and Abdullah Maute through kinship ties or friendship bonds, which facilitated recruitment and inspired loyalty within terrorist cells. Organization-wise, Abdullah was the vice-chairman for military operations and Omar the equivalent for political affairs, along with a third brother, Mohammad Khayam, heading operation planning and intelligence. Furthermore, their parents were in charge of finance and logistics. Over the years, the Maute Group strengthened its alliances with other Islamist groups in the region, mainly thanks to ideological affinities that motivated them to fight for the Moro cause against the Government of Philippines . Eventually, the Maute Group built a network that brought together individuals from the Maranao, Tausug and Maguindanao ethnic groups, along with al-Harakat al-Islamiyah, headed by Isnilon Hapilon, the MILF, an Islamic cell from Cotobato town and Ansharul Khalifa Philippines (AKP). Moreover, reflecting the importance of kinship ties, the main roles in the group were played by the Maute brothers and their relatives, some of whom where, in turn, also connected to other Islamist organizations in the region. For instance, one cousin of theirs was married to a leader of MILF, Halim Abdulaziz Mimbantas, vice-chairman for military affairs. In 2015, the Maute Group pledged allegiance to (IS), formally becoming part of it on 20 April the following year. After this date, the Maute Group thus ceases to be seen as an independent entity in UCDP data. Instead, what was previously the Maute Group became part of IS, and its activities are recorded as part of the conflict Philippines: Islamic State.