EditKurdish PKK dissolves, ending decades-long insurgency against Turkey
The European Commission and other international actors have welcomed the move
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group that has waged a bloody insurgency against Turkey since 1984, announced its decision to disband and cease armed operations, marking a historic turning point in a conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives.
The decision, reported by the PKK-affiliated Firat news agency, follows a February 2025 call from its jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to disarm and dissolve, raising hopes for peace in Turkey’s Kurdish southeast and stability across the Middle East. The European Commission and other international actors have welcomed the move, urging all parties to capitalise on this opportunity, though challenges remain in securing a lasting resolution.
A long and costly conflict
Founded in 1978 by Öcalan, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdish state in southeast Turkey, home to much of Turkey’s 20% Kurdish population. Rooted in Marxist-Leninist ideology, the group launched its insurgency in 1984, targeting Turkish security forces in rural and urban areas, including high-profile attacks in Ankara and Istanbul.
Over time, the PKK moderated its goals, advocating for greater Kurdish cultural rights and limited autonomy within Turkey. Designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, the European Union, and others, the group has been based in northern Iraq’s Qandil mountains since the 1990s, with affiliates like the YPG in Syria complicating regional dynamics.
The conflict has exacted a heavy toll, killing mostly PKK militants but also Turkish soldiers and civilians, while crippling the southeast’s economy through destroyed infrastructure and disrupted investment. Past peace efforts, notably a 2013-2015 ceasefire, collapsed amid mutual distrust and renewed violence. Turkey’s crackdowns on pro-Kurdish politicians, including the ousting of elected mayors, and ongoing military operations in Iraq and Syria have fuelled scepticism among Kurds about Ankara’s commitment to reconciliation. Öcalan’s capture in 1999 and life imprisonment on Imrali island near Istanbul shifted the PKK’s strategy, but his enduring influence, evidenced by his February call, underscores his role as a pivotal figure.
PKK’s historic decision
The PKK’s dissolution was formalised at its 12th Congress, held from 5 to 7 May in northern Iraq, where leaders voted to end the group’s organisational structure and armed struggle.
“The PKK has completed its historic mission,” the group stated, per Firat, crediting its efforts with elevating the Kurdish issue to a point solvable through “democratic politics.” The statement emphasized Öcalan’s role in managing the disarmament process, though a PKK official noted that weapon handovers depend on Ankara’s response, particularly on Kurdish rights and the fate of fighters. The group ceased all military operations immediately, barring attacks against it.
The decision follows a March 2025 ceasefire declaration, prompted by Öcalan’s appeal, which was facilitated by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), Turkey’s third-largest parliamentary party. DEM’s Tayip Temel called the move “significant” for Kurds and the Middle East, urging a shift in Turkey’s “state mentality” toward inclusive policies. However, the PKK’s insistence on Öcalan’s leadership and Ankara’s vague commitments raise questions about the process’s viability.
European Commission and international reactions
The European Commission hailed the PKK’s decision as a “positive step” toward resolving the Kurdish issue, with foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stating on 12 May that “all parties must seize the moment to launch a credible peace process.” The EU, a key trade partner of Turkey and host to Kurdish diasporas, emphasized the need for dialogue to ensure “security, stability, and respect for cultural and democratic rights.” While supportive, the EU’s response reflects caution, acknowledging Turkey’s NATO role and the complexity of integrating former PKK fighters.
The United States, which lists the PKK as a terrorist group but allies with its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, welcomed the announcement as a chance to reduce regional tensions. A State Department spokesperson on 12 May encouraged “constructive engagement” while reaffirming support for Turkey’s security. Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani endorsed the move, calling it a boost for regional stability but warning that all PKK affiliates, including in Syria, must comply. Syria’s new Islamist-led government, aligned with Turkey, echoed calls for Kurdish disarmament, reflecting Ankara’s influence post-Assad.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, representing a country with a significant Kurdish population, described the PKK’s dissolution as an opportunity for “lasting peaceful development,” contingent on upholding Kurdish rights. The UK Foreign Office similarly supported a “peaceful and constructive process,” balancing its counter-terrorism partnership with Turkey and human rights concerns.
Turkey’s response and Erdoğan’s opportunity
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has pursued intermittent peace initiatives over his two-decade rule, faces a historic chance to stabilize the southeast, where the insurgency has stifled development. The government welcomed the PKK’s decision, with AK Party spokesman Omer Celik calling it “an important step toward a terror-free Turkey.” Fahrettin Altun, the presidency’s communications director, pledged measures to ensure a smooth transition, though Ankara insists the PKK act first before discussing Kurdish rights.
Erdoğan’s political calculus is complex. The dissolution could bolster his domestic standing, potentially aiding efforts to extend his rule beyond 2028, when his term expires. However, his government’s crackdown on opposition figures, including the March 2025 jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, and continued military operations in Iraq and Syria despite the PKK’s ceasefire, fuel Kurdish distrust. A Turkish defence ministry official reiterated that operations would persist “as long as there is an armed terrorist,” citing 26 PKK militants killed in March 2025.
Regional and economic implications
The PKK’s disbandment could reshape the Middle East, where its activities have spilled into Iraq and Syria. In Syria, the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and Turkey’s backing of the new Damascus government have pressured Kurdish forces like the YPG to disarm, though their commander, Mazloum Abdi, distanced his group from Öcalan’s call. In Iraq, the PKK’s exit from Qandil could ease tensions with Baghdad, which labeled the group banned in 2024.
Economically, peace could unlock investment in Turkey’s southeast, where unemployment and poverty exceed national averages.
While the PKK’s dissolution is a milestone, peace is not assured. Ankara’s reluctance to outline specific reforms, such as amending anti-terror laws or restoring elected Kurdish mayors, contrasts with DEM’s calls for a legal roadmap. Öcalan’s role remains contentious; polls suggest his involvement is unpopular among Turks, and it’s unclear if Turkey will ease his prison conditions. The reintegration of PKK fighters, estimated at several thousand, poses logistical and political hurdles, with no clear amnesty framework.
Past failures, like the 2013-2015 ceasefire’s collapse, loom large. Analysts warn that without mutual concessions—Turkey addressing Kurdish cultural and political rights, and the PKK fully disarming—tensions could resurface. “This is a minefield,” said DEM lawmaker Cengiz Candar, highlighting the risk of failure amid ongoing government crackdowns. The PKK’s Syrian affiliates’ resistance to disarmament further complicates regional alignment.
Sources: Reuters, Al-Jazeera, The Guardian, edited by g.g.
Caption: Supporters of The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) hold pictures of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, and shout slogans next to a bonfire during a rally for Newruz celebrations in Diyarbakir, Turkey, 21 March 2025. [EPA-EFE/METIN YOKSU]
Updated: May 12, 2025 - 15:43
