End of an era: PKK disbands, ceases armed struggle in Türkiye

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), following a congress convened in response to a call by Devlet Bahceli, has announced its dissolution. In the organization’s declaration, which stated, “activities conducted under the name of PKK have been terminated,” criticisms were leveled against the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution, and a call was made for the restructuring of Kurdish-Turkish relations.

The PKK declared at its 12th Congress that it had resolved to dissolve its organizational structure and cease its armed struggle. This decision came after a call from the organization’s founder, Abdullah Ocalan, and is being regarded as the dawn of a new era in Türkiye.

Between May 5-7, 2025, during its 12th Congress held in northern Iraq, the PKK decided to dissolve its organizational structure and terminate its armed struggle. The declaration announcing the congress’s decisions, published by the organization’s news outlet, Firat News Agency, stated: “The 12th PKK Congress, with the practical implementation process to be managed and executed by Leader Apo, has decided to dissolve the organizational structure of the PKK and end the method of armed struggle, thereby terminating activities conducted under the name of PKK.”

Notably, the decision to disband was confined to the Kurdistan Communities Union’s (KCK) Turkish branch, the PKK. The KCK framework includes armed and political extensions such as the PKK in Türkiye, the YPG/YPJ in Syria, KCK-Bakur and HPG in Iraq, and PJAK in Iran.

The process began with Bahceli’s call

The PKK’s dissolution process commenced after Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s appeal to Ocalan last October. On October 22, Bahceli urged Ocalan, stating: “Türkiye does not need a new solution process but rather to engage common sense, take honest and sincere steps, and further strengthen a thousand-year brotherhood. Türkiye’s problem is not the Kurds but the separatist terrorist organization. It is imperative to individually resolve the issues of my Kurdish brothers… I also address those who claim nothing will happen unless the terrorist leader is involved. If the terrorist leader’s isolation is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Let him proclaim that terrorism has completely ended and the organization has been abolished.”

Responding to Bahceli’s remarks, Ocalan, in a statement from prison on February 27, indicated that the organization should renounce armed struggle and pivot towards democratic politics. The PKK convened its congress and approved the dissolution in response to this call.

Emphasis on Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution

The PKK’s dissolution declaration drew attention for its references to the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution, and its inclusion of the word “genocide.”

The text asserted: “Our party, the PKK, emerged on the historical stage as our people’s freedom movement against the Kurdish denial and annihilation policy originating from the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution.” It further stated, “The PKK was shaped under conditions where strict Kurdish denial, the annihilation policy based on it, and policies of genocide and assimilation were dominant.”

‘Restructuring Kurdish-Turkish relations is inevitable’

The declaration argued that amidst the conditions of a “3rd World War,” a restructuring of Turkish-Kurdish relations is necessary: “Leader Apo adopted the perspective of a Democratic Republic of Türkiye, where the Common Homeland and Kurdish-Turkish peoples are constituent elements, and the Democratic Nation understanding as the framework for resolving the Kurdish issue, referencing the period before the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution when Kurdish-Turkish relations became problematic. Kurdish rebellions throughout the history of the Republic, the 1000-year historical dialectic of Kurdish-Turkish relations, and the 52-year leadership struggle have demonstrated that the Kurdish issue can only be beneficially resolved on the basis of a Common Homeland and Equal Citizenship. Current developments in the Middle East within the scope of the 3rd World War also render the restructuring of Kurdish-Turkish relations inevitable.”

Call to the Turkish Grand National Assembly

The PKK’s declaration emphasized that the organization has fulfilled its historical mission and that the Kurdish issue should be resolved through democratic politics. It stated: “The implementation of these decisions requires Leader Apo to manage and direct the process, the recognition of the right to democratic politics, and a solid, comprehensive legal guarantee. At this stage, it is important for the Turkish Grand National Assembly to play its role with historical responsibility.”

Turkish government: Historic step

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the PKK’s decision to disband as “a historic step for regional peace” and affirmed that Türkiye will closely monitor the process. AK Party Spokesperson Omer Celik remarked that the decision was “an important step towards a terror-free Türkiye.”

CHP: Parliament should be involved in the process

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Group Chairman Ali Mahir Basarir, speaking on a live television broadcast, said: “This country has been combating terrorism for 40 years. The silencing of weapons and the cessation of bloodshed are, of course, significant. However, for the legitimacy of the process, it is essential that Parliament is involved.”

Expressing his unease regarding the lack of transparency in managing the process, Basarir commented: “We should not be learning about this process from Samil Tayyar. It should be conducted transparently with the parties represented in Parliament. No one should be providing us with information from journalists or through back channels. If Parliament is excluded, social consensus cannot be achieved.”

The PKK’s decision to disband positively impacted the Turkish economy. According to Reuters, the BIST 100 index gained over 3%. The Turkish lira also appreciated by 1.3% against the Euro, and an increase was observed in international bonds.

The PKK’s decision to disband is viewed as the beginning of a new era in Türkiye and the region. However, the future trajectory of the process and its ultimate success remain uncertain.