Ankara, Turkey – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long armed insurgency against the Turkish state, announced on Monday it will dissolve its organizational structure and formally end its armed conflict with Turkey.
In a statement published via ANF, a media outlet affiliated with the group, the PKK said the decision was made during its 12th party congress. Delegates voted to bring an end to military activities and all operations carried out under the party’s name.
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“The congress concluded that the historical mission of the PKK has been fulfilled, having broken the policies of denial and eradication imposed on the Kurdish people,” the statement said. “The Kurdish issue has reached a point where it can be resolved through democratic politics.”
The congress, held simultaneously in two undisclosed locations for security reasons, was attended by 232 delegates, the group said. Discussions covered leadership, the role of martyrs and veterans, the future of the movement, and the transition from armed struggle to civil society engagement.
The PKK emphasized that imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan would oversee the dissolution process. Öcalan, held on the Turkish island of İmralı since 1999, reportedly sent a message in late February calling on the organization to lay down arms and embrace peaceful means.
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The statement added, “Founded in 1978, the PKK arose due to the systemic oppression and denial of Kurdish identity which began with the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.”
Öcalan’s recent call for peace was welcomed internationally. UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed it as a glimmer of hope for a conflict that has spanned generations.
While Turkish authorities have yet to comment officially on the announcement, analysts say the development could mark a pivotal moment in Turkish-Kurdish relations, if met with reciprocal political will.
