Misuari has been in exile in Libya and elsewhere since the 1970s. Cotabato City becomes the seat of the ARMM government, which is inaugurated in 1990. The first round of exploratory talks between the government of Fidel Ramos and the MNLF is held in Tripoli, Libya. The government re-establishes contact with Misuari. The first round of formal negotiations between Manila and the MNLF is held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Officials sign an interim ceasefire agreement.
Manila and the MNLF sign an interim peace agreement during the third round of formal talks in Jakarta. Misuari signs a formal peace agreement with Manila that ends the 24-year separatist rebellion. Manila signs a ceasefire agreement with the MILF, which now has about 14,000 members. Rebels free two Hong Kong nationals and one Malaysian held captive deep in the jungles of Mindanao for 15 weeks. A Taiwan grandmother and her Filipino maid are released by Abu Sayyaf after 130 days in captivity.